PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR — The NIA Region 9 conducted its 5th Convergence Meeting on June 19, 2025, at the NIA-9 Training Center in Balintawak, Pagadian City. The meeting was attended by 16 government agencies and partner organizations, all working together to support programs that benefit farmers and rural communities.
The main goal of the meeting was to strengthen cooperation among government agencies and private institutions, and to ensure that their programs and services are well-aligned and focused on supporting farmers more effectively.
During the meeting, NIA provided updates on two major projects: the Pasonanca Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) and the Solar-Powered Irrigation Pump Projects (SPIP) in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi- Tawi (BASULTA).
Other topics discussed included environmental policies related to irrigation presented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), housing assistance for affected communities shared by the National Housing Authority (NHA), and a summary of trainings and services already provided through the convergence program. In addition, Syntegral Global Solutions, Inc., a private company, introduced its programs and technologies aimed at improving agricultural practices in the region.
This convergence meeting is part of NIA Region IX's ongoing effort to build strong partnerships, improve irrigation systems, and deliver better and more unified services to farmers not only in the Zamboanga Peninsula but also in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.