Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay – Forging closer ties with farmer stakeholders and other government agencies through dialogue, NIA Zamboanga Sibugay Irrigation Management Office conducted a Stakeholders Forum last February 2, 2018 at PDRRMC Hall, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Attended by NIA Chief Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya (Ret.) and his Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance BGen. Romeo G. Gan (Ret.), the said forum aims to bring together all organizations and agencies relevant to irrigation development to commit to a common goal of improving the farmer’s quality of life in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay. Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Governor, Atty. Wilter Y. Palma, chiefs from different government agencies and private sectors as well as municipal mayors from the two (2) districts, joined in signing the covenant of support for this purpose.
“This forum is a good avenue for farmers and government implementers to level out understanding of each other’s concern and priority. We thank NIA for the support and the initiative of coming down to the provinces to hear us out and in returned having the opportunity as well to explain our programs to our constituents,” said farmer-turned-politician Municipal Mayor of Titay, Abner Talania.
The Philippine Army headed by BGen. Jacinto R. Bareng, and the Philippine National Police headed by PSSupt. Nestor Y. Tiempo also gave a security briefing and presentation of the peace and order situation of the province, respectively. It was followed by an open forum which gave the 600 farmer attendees and local chiefs an avenue to ask questions, air out concerns, and clarify matters regarding the implementation of irrigation projects in the province.
“In support of the “Build, Build, Build” program of the government, we will talk and collaborate with local chiefs and other stakeholders para di na ma-delay at madisturbo ang mga projects. We need the cooperation of everybody,” NIA Chief Visaya said.
The Stakeholders Forum is one of the initiatives of the Duterte administration to make government closer to the people by providing them a platform to access accurate information, assert their rights, and to enthuse faster project implementation.