LABANGAN, ZDS. NIA - IX Regional Manager Salome Naragas Layasan presides the Meeting on Rehabilitation and Protection of Water Resources Supporting River Irrigation Systems, held at the Zamboanga del Sur Irrigation Management Office (ZDS IMO) on October 14, 2022.

The meeting aims to discuss the 1st year implementation of management plan for Labangan River Irrigation System (LABRIS) and Salug River Irrigation System (SARIS) dams.

The above-mentioned National Irrigation Systems (NIS) greatly support the rice sufficiency of Zamboanga Peninsula. Thus, in order to preserve the two watersheds, a 2.6 million budget will be allocated for the reforestation of areas, 300 hectares radius from the dams. Around 12,000 seedling varieties will be planted as part of the reforestation plan.

ZDS IMO Manager Benedicto Isagani O. Pulis Jr. together with the technical, institutional and other key staff of the IMO were present during the meeting.

The Zamboanga del Sur Irrigation Management Office (ZDS IMO) conducted a one-day workshop on Operation and Maintenance (O & M) Policy Formulation for San Fernando Small Irrigation Project (SIP), held at Brgy. San Fernando, Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur on October 12, 2022.

The San Fernando SIP which is located in the municipality of Ramon Magsaysay, ZDS is being managed by Tuburan San Fernando Irrigators Association (IA). It has a total service area of 30 hectares, with 40 farmer beneficiaries.

The training was conducted in order for the IA - as the  system owner, to be aware on how to properly manage their irrigation system. At the end of the workshop, the IA was able to formulate O & M policies  based from their Cropping Calendar, Water Distribution, System Maintenance, Conflict Management, and Financial Management.

The activity was facilitated by the Institutional Development Program (IDP) implementers of ZDS IMO headed by Ms. Ann Novabos Maligro along with her team of Irrigation Development Officers, and was participated by the Officials and Board of Trustees of Tuburan San Fernando IA.

As part of the initial project management phases of the Proposed Dimataling National Irrigation Project (NIP) in Zamboanga del Sur, an Area Validation was carried out by Zamboanga del Sur Irrigation Management Office (ZDS IMO) held on October 12, 2022 at the two barangays of Dimataling municipality, namely Brgy. Kagawasan and Brgy. Tiniguawangan.

The main purpose of the activity is to determine and validate the complete names of land owners and its specific status of ownership to particular land area and location through the use of parcellary map.

The activity was spearheaded by the Technical Staff of  ZDS IMO led by Engr. Rey M. Pinatacan  along with his team, Mr. Charlito Bantayan Gayanan, Acting Irrigators Development Officer (IDO), Engr. @Dulce Amor Alegre (Dulce Hapi),  and NIA Validators. It was attended by barangay officials of Kagawan and Tiniguawangan, Farmers Association Officers, and land owners.

Geared towards one common goal, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the Local Government Unit (LGU), and the Indigenous People (IP) unite to realize one irrigation project in the municipality Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur.

NIA Zamboanga del Sur IMO (ZDS IMO) in partnership with the National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP) thru Community Service Team Leader, Ms. Verma Lee, and the Local Government of Lapuyan, ZDS headed by Mayor Joel B. Sulong, successfully conducted the two-day Field Base Investigation for Carpoc-Lubosan Communal Irrigation Project (CIP) on October 6-7, 2022.

The Carpoc-Lubosan CIP located in Lapuyan, ZDS is a 13-Million project funded under Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program - Irrigation Program (CARP-IC).
The Tribal Council of Lapuyan DLEPUYAN GBALAY BAGELAL represented by the Municipal IPMR, Mr. Jessie Imbing along with other 10 IPMRs have given their full support and permission for the construction of irrigation system which is part of their ancestral domain.

To further enhance the implementation and alignment of NIA Region IX Quality Management System (QMS), NIA Region IX conducts the CY 2022 Management Review on October 4-5, 2022 at NIA-IX Conference Room, Balintawak, Pagadian City.

In lieu of the Regional Manager, the two-day activity was led by Engr. Maritez Cabatit Ignacio Soria, Engineering and Operations Division Manager, and was participated by all ISO Core Teams and process owners.

The conduct of Management Review is vital to review and evaluate the effectiveness of QMS and to continually improve its implementation in NIA.