Zamboanga City - NIA Region 9 officially turned over Latuan Small Irrigation Project (SIP) Phase II to Latuan Irrigators Association (IA) during an Inauguration and Turn-over Ceremony held at Brgy. Latuan, Zamboanga City on August 24, 2023.

The Latuan SIP Phase II, programmed under SIP CY 2022 has a total project cost of 30-million which covered the construction of 17 units reinforced concrete tanks and the installation of 8.044 km pipe lines. It can irrigate approximately 40 hectares of agricultural lands benefitting more than 80 farmer families. The project was completed under the supervision of ZAMBASULTA Regional Sub-Office headed by Engr. Rex L. Armentia.

Among the dignitaries present during the event are NIA Regional Manager June Nathaniel Plaza ; Majority Leader Congressman Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe represented by Mr. Champ Dalipe; and City Councilor & Committee on Agriculture Joselito “Lit-lit” Macrohon.  

Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in partnership with NIA converged in providing another source of livelihood, apart from farming, to 30 farmer beneficiaries of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

Through the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) – Program Convergence Budgeting (PCB), 30 Irrigators Association (IA) members, who are now part of the NIA-SLP Association, received a livelihood grant with a seed capital amounting to Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 450,000.00).
The fund was used by the association to venture on Chicken and Egg Production, with initial 200 heads of chicken layers and an egg production facility. This microenterprise model project aims to promote sustainable livelihood for low-income individuals.

This activity is also implemented under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPHAP) program in support to the government’s sustainable livelihood projects aimed toward food availability and production to reduce incidence of hunger and poverty in the country.

NIA Region 9 appeared before the Office of Congressman Mujiv S. Hataman, Representative, Lone Distict of Basilan, purposely to present the Agency’s proposed budget for CY 2024.

Also discussed during the meeting is the status on the implementation of NIA projects and program in Isabela City, Basilan for Fiscal 2022 and 2023.
NIA-9 Regional Manager June Nathaniel Plaza  was represented by Acting Manager for Engineering and Operations Division (EOD) - Engr. Antonio Briones Gujeling, together with the management of Zambonga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawitawi Regional Sub-office (ZAMBASULTA RSO) headed by Engr. Rex Armentia, and other key personnel of the agency.

Also present during the meeting are representatives from Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who also presented their respective budget proposals.

Free Irrigation Service Act (FISA) Caravan, Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) Caravan, and Tabo-an  happens now in the municipal gymnasium of Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.

The FISA Caravan spearheaded by NIA aims to assists the farmers in the processing of their Certificate of Exemption on the Payment of Irrigation Service Fee.

Meanwhile, the RSBSA Caravan aims to ensure the registration of farmers in the DA’s centralized database for them to benefit from the assistance and programs of the government.

On August 10, 2023, the National Irrigation Administration Region IX-Zamboanga del Norte Regional Sub-Office headed by Acting Manager Wilson N. Cabrales facilitated by ZDNRSO Institutional Development Unit in supervision of the Acting Unit Head Alvin Christian Dequito turn-over the completed project to the recipients of Aljaria Irrigators’ and Multi-purpose Association, Inc. This project is amounting to Php35Million funded under SIP funds for the construction of Protection Works, Canalization and Canal Structures which target to serve 70hectares of agricultural land benefiting 100 farmer beneficiaries.

The turn-over ceremony was graced by Engr. Cabrales and accepted by the Irrigator Association lead by IA President Hadji Salihod N. Baid held at the covered court of Brgy. Lubok, Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte. The activity was attended by Municipal Vice Mayor Hon. Pulman Darkis, Municipal Agriculturist Mr. George Caragan and OIC Brgy. Captain Sali Baitulla.

The NIA continue to support the farmers particularly in providing efficient, effective, and sustainable irrigation services to the farmers