Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Irrigators Associations (IAs) successfully conducted a joint activity called the Free Irrigation Service Act (FISA) & Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) Caravan and IA Tabo-an, held on August 29, 2023 at SILALELA IA Covered Court, Silawe, Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte.

The FISA Caravan aims to disseminate information to the farmers about FISA and to assist them in processing their Certificate of Exemption on the Payment of Irrigation Service Fee (ISF), while the RSBA Caravan intends to ensure the registration of farmer beneficiaries in the DA’s centralized database for them to be prioritized in the benefit and assistance program of the national government.

Consistent with the Agency’s dedication in implementing the ISO 9001:2018, NIA Region 9 conducts a three-day training workshop on Risk Management starting today, August 29 to 31, 2023, at NIA-9 Regional Office Conference Room, Balintawak, Pagadian City.

The activity aims to enhance and modernize the Agency’s application on risk management by increasing its personnel’s degree of understanding on risk management, particularly those who belong to the Risk Management Team (RMT) of ISO Core Group.

Mr. Alan G. Fabella, ISO Consultant, serves as the resource speaker and lecturer of the 3-day seminar-workshop. It is participated by 35 RMT members all over the region in a hybrid set-up. Participants coming from the regional office and nearby provinces attended the activity at the venue, while those from Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Norte participated through virtual platform.

NIA Region 9 together with various national government agencies and bureaus convene today , August 29, 2023 for the second NIA-NGA Convergence Meeting held at NIA-9 Function Hall, Regional Center, Balintawak, Pagadian City.

The participating agencies for the said meeting include the Department of Agriculture (DA) represented by the OIC, Regional Executive Director himself, RED Reynaldo M. Campomanes; DA – PHILRICE, DA – PHILMEC, DA – ATI, DENR, DILG, DPWH, DAR, TESDA, CDA, DOST, DSWD, and DILG represented by their respective convergence focal persons. Also present is the Regional Federation President for Zamboanga Peninsula, Alonto L. Marcaban.

Presiding the meeting is NIA-9 Regional Manager June Nathaniel S. Plaza. With him are Engineering and Operations Manager Antonio B. Gujeling, Managers of the different NIA-9 field offices and their respective convergence focal persons, other officials and staff of the regional office.

Agarang aksyon sa nasirang irigasyon – yan ang tagubilin ni Regional Manager June Nathaniel S. Plaza sa mga opisyales at inhinyero ng ahensya upang mabilis na maiayos ang mga damage structures na dulot ng bagyo at matinding pagbaha.

Ngayong araw ng Sabado, nagtungo si RM Plaza upang inspeksyonin ang Bokong Dam ng Labangan River Irrigation System (LABRIS), Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur at suriin ang nasirang retaining wall ng nasabing dam.

Nagtungo rin si sya sa Mahayag Dam ng Salug River Irrigation System (SARIS), Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur upang makita ang updates sa pagpapaayos ng nasirang dam.

Kalakip ng bisitang ito mga bilin at gabay upang mapabilis at mas maisaayos ang pagpapatupad ng konstruksiyon at pagkukumpuni ng nasirang irigasyon.

Earlier today, the team of Department of Agriculture - PhilRice Midsayap headed by Dr. Sailila E. Abdula, PhilRice Midsayap Branch Director pays courtesy visit to NIA-9 Regional Manager June Nathaniel S. Plaza at NIA-9 Regional Office, Regional Government Center, Balintawak, Pagadian City,

Being the Rice Industry Development Program Director for Mindanao at the same time, Dr. Abdula aims to establish a good coordination with NIA for them to improve the strategy of farming  by increasing the number of cropping suitable for the farm clustering timetable.

Moreover, this meeting serves as the start of convergence initiatives towards the effective implementation of the Masagana Rice Industry Program for rice sufficiency and food security in Zamboanga Peninsula.