RIZAL, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE — Demonstrating its commitment to the well-being of local farmers, the NIA Region 9 conducted a health awareness orientation on Monkeypox Virus and conducted follow-up checkups for Medical Mission farmer-beneficiaries on June 3, 2025 in Barangay La Esperanza, Rizal. The initiative was led by NIA Region IX Industrial Nurse Ms. Carousel Mae D. Lamatan, in coordination with Nilabo Longonon Irrigators Association, Inc.

The orientation aimed to educate farmers about Monkeypox including its symptoms, modes of transmission, preventive measures, and available treatments particularly in rural areas where access to health education is often limited. By providing timely and relevant health information, the activity helped strengthen the IA's capacity to prevent and respond to potential outbreaks.

MABUHAY, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE - Key personnel from the NIA Zamboanga del Norte Regional Sub- Office (NIA ZDNRSO), led by Construction Head Engr. Jessreel Intic, conducted a consultative forum with farmer beneficiaries of the proposed Mabuhay Solar-Powered Irrigation Project (SPIP) funded under the CY 2025 EGPIP-Solar.

The project, with an estimated cost of $30 million, is designed to generate and irrigate 30 hectares of new agricultural land, aiming to uplift the productivity of farmers in the area. The forum was held to ensure the smooth implementation of the project through early coordination and strengthened collaboration between NIA, the Irrigators Association (IA), the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU), and other key stakeholders.

This engagement marks the start of groundwork activities for the Mabuhay SPIP, a vital step in NIA's continuing mission to promote sustainable and climate-resilient irrigation systems that directly benefit smallholder farmers and rural communities.

SULU PROVINCE — To reinforce collaboration and support for upcoming irrigation initiatives, the NIA Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi (Zambasulta) conducted two significant courtesy calls on June 3, 2025, with key officials in the province of Sulu.

ZAMBASULTA Regional Sub-Office Acting Manager Engr. Sandra T. Tero, along with Irrigation Development Officer Fernaida K. Dahim, Geotagger Neil B. Rojas, and contractor representative Mr. Franco Caingin Jr., paid a courtesy visit to Major General Leonardo I. Peña, Commander of the 11th Infantry "Alakdan" Division in Barangay Bus-Bus, Jolo. The meeting aimed to establish coordination and strengthen security and monitoring support for NIA's field operations, particularly in remote and conflict-prone areas, as part of the agency's convergence initiative.

IPIL, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY — The NIA Zamboanga Sibugay Irrigation Management Office (ZSIMO) conducted a coordination meeting with the Tomitom Farmers Irrigators' Association on June 3, 2025 in Barangay Tomitom. Inc. The activity aimed to strengthen collaboration, address irrigation-related concerns, and identify priority actions to ensure the efficient management of irrigation systems in the area.

One of the major points discussed was the limited groundwater source revealed during a recent georesistivity test. To address this, NIA will explore alternative drilling locations and propose a Solar Pump Irrigation Project using surface water sources to serve the 15-hectare target serviceable area. These efforts reflect NIA's proactive approach to ensuring that irrigation services remain reliable and responsive to the needs of the farming community.

IPIL, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY - The NIA - Zamboanga Sibugay Irrigation Management Office (ZSIMO), led by Acting Division Manager Engr. Maria Gertrudes P. Gania, is currently conducting a Contractor's Forum focused on improving project efficiency and ensuring the timely delivery of irrigation infrastructure. The forum provides a venue for open dialogue between NIA and its contractors to strengthen coordination, resolve implementation issues, and uphold strict adherence to quality and construction standards. It emphasizes the importance of teamwork and accountability in achieving NIA's goals for reliable and sustainable irrigation services.

This initiative highlights NIA's continued commitment to empowering farming communities through efficient project execution and ensuring that irrigation systems are built to last and capable of supporting the growth and productivity of the province's agriculture sector.