The management of NIA Region 9 invited Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera of 53rd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army to share his insights and expertise on Strategic Communication to the officials and personnel of NIA-9 Regional Office on March 10, 2021.

The talk of Lt. Col. Herrera happened prior to the conduct of the agency’s Regional Management Conference. The Guest of Honor and Speaker talked about how Strategic Communication becomes purposeful in fulfilling the mission/objectives of the organization. He explained in details the concepts and competencies that leader-communicators must practice and possess in order to effectively translate its objectives and gain strategic influence.

As a start, Lt. Col. Herrera showed a glimpse of what they do as public servants and partners in building peaceful communities in collaboration with other agencies, local government units, and non-government organizations in the province. In the course of his presentation, he also highlighted the mandate of President Duterte’s E.O. 70 Whole-of-Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Two (2) Irrigators Association of Zamboanga Peninsula officially received the award as 2019 National Rice Achievers in an Awarding Ceremony led by Agriculture Secretary William Dar on February 26, 2021 held at Zamboanga del Norte Cultural and Sports Center, Dipolog City.

The Evergreen Malamboon Farmers Irrigators Association, Inc headed by IA President Nestor Agada was among the five (5) winners of Rice Achievers in the National Irrigation System (NIS) category. Meanwhile, the Azusano Irrigators Association headed by IA President Felix A. Sultan was awarded as one of the five (5) national Rice Achievers under the Communal Irrigation System. Each of the outstanding IAs received One Million Pesos reward as support to their respective associations.

Apart from the award, the said Irrigators Associations received the full support of the agency as they were accompanied by NIA Region IX management headed by Regional Manager Manuel L. Rañeses to witness the momentous event.

Buenavista, Zamboanga City – The National Irrigation Administration Region IX turned over Buenavista CIS to Km 57 Buenavista Lower Irrigators’ Association on March 01, 2021 at Barangay Buenavista, Zamboanga City. This project is the 6th solar powered irrigation system in Zamboanga City which gives hope to eight (rain-dependent farmer beneficiaries as they will now be having a reliable and sustainable water supply which will irrigate their five (5) hectares of agricultural land.

Dumalinao, ZDS – The Institutional Development Unit of Zamboanga del Sur IMO headed by Ms. Ann Maligro successfully organized Baloboan Sector on January 23, 2021. This sector will serve as an extension of Balocan IA, Inc and will consequently take-over the future irrigation system in Brgy Baloboan, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur.

This proposed project named Canunan-Balongating CIS Extension has a total project cost of Php 10M under Triple – E IS (Expansion and Extension of Existing Irrigation System) CY 2021 fund source. Through this project, an additional 40 hectares of newly generated area will supplement the existing 317-hectare Canunan-Balongating CIS, therefore benefitting more farmer beneficiaries in the area.