Dipolog City - NIA-Zamboanga del Norte Regional Sub-office headed by Acting Manager Engr. Wilson N. Cabrales holds the turn-over ceremony of six (6) fully completed and operational irrigation projects to different Irrigators Associations (IAs) in Zamboanga del Norte. The activity was held at the Bamboo Garden, Dipolog City on August 26, 2022.
The program started with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting with NIA-IX Top Management, IA Presidents, Municipal Mayors, Congressional District Representatives and Representative from the Governor’s Office in the Province.
The completed irrigation projects are the following:
1. Lagag SIP- Php35, 000, 000.00
2. Lanawan SIP- Php21, 097, 000.00
3. Kalayuhan SIP- Php18, 262, 000.00
4. Malugas PIS- Php6, 800, 000.00
5. Lugdungan SPIP- Php7, 600, 000.00
6. La Esperanza CIS- Php1, 000, 000.00
The above-mentioned projects were turned over to respective IAs - LAGSIDESI IA, Lanawan-Salug Farmers IA, Pangian A.L Micubo Farmers IA, Samahang Magsasaka ng Malugas IA, Lugsong-Dipolog IA, and Nilabo-Longonan IA. These systems has a total service area of 523 hectares and will serve a sustainable irrigation services to 333 local farmers in the province.
NIA-Region IX represented by Division Manager of Engineering and Operations, Engr. Maritez I. Soria emphasized regarding the expansion of NIA through its Solar Pump Irrigation Projects. She said, “NIA is now expanding the irrigation development from rice land to diversified crops to help improve the income of our local farmers. Meron ng makabagong teknolohiya kagaya ng solar pump irrigation projects para makatulong sa ating mga magsasaka na nagtatanim ng mga gulay, prutas at iba pang mga High Valued Crops”.
On the other hand, the Governor of Zamboanga del Norte, Hon. Rosalina G. Jalosjos who was represented by her Provincial Administrator Atty. Dug Christopher Mah, thanked the agency for continuing the development of irrigation projects in the province as these will aid the farmers gain sustainable livelihood. “I hope that you remain determined in helping our people live a more dignified and productive lives. The advancement of our countryside will surely benefit our nation in the long term and allow Filipinos to secure economic opportunities without migrating to our urban areas”, Gov. Jalosjos stated in her written speech.
Together with Engr. Cabrales and the involvement of his staff and constituents from the Engineering Unit headed by Engr. Rex Armentia and Operations/Institutional Development Unit headed by Supervising IDO Dionisio C. Solutorio, the completed projects are now officially turned over to its respective IAs. With this event, NIA and the stakeholders share a unified objective, that is to provide efficient, effective and sustainable irrigation services to the local farmers.