Zamboanga City – National Irrigation Administration Central Office (NIA CO) Inspectorate and Assistance Team (IAT) visited the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi collectively known as BASULTA on November 4-8, 2019 as part of their two-week project inspection in NIA Region IX. During its entry conference on November 4, 2019 at L’ Meridian Hotel, Zamboanga City, Col. Rogelio R Percol who spearheaded the said field inspection emphasized the objective of the group to provide guidance as well as opportunities for improvement should deficiencies in the project implementation are found. The IAT was divided into two (2) groups to cover the entire region which has 100 irrigation projects in CY 2019 alone. Projects to be visited were randomly pre-selected by the group which also included projects from previous years both ongoing and completed.

Zamboanga City - The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region IX conducted the two-day seminar-workshop on Digital Media Use and Social Media Engagement with Digital Marketing Strategist, Mr. Gilmar E. Padua on October 24-25, 2019 at LM Metro Hotel, Zamboanga City. Participants were composed of NIA Public Relations (PR) officers and designates from respective regions of Mindanao. A total of 38 PR members all over Mindanao participated and completed the 16-hour seminar-workshop.

The said seminar-workshop aims to equip PR members with skills necessary to optimize the use of social media platforms, as well as appreciate social media analytics and come up with social media strategies and policies relevant to the agency. Hands-on learning exercises were provided for the participants to readily apply concepts and principles demonstrated in the lectures. Among others, participants learned how to set up autobots for Facebook page messaging, generate captions using Value Proposition Canvas strategy, and plan ahead using the Social Media calendar.

As National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region IX's two (2) Irrigators' Associations (IAs) got short-listed for NIA's nationwide Search for Most Outstanding IA, auditors from NIA Central Office (NIA CO) are now ready to validate their desk evaluation on the ground. Composed of Institutional Development officers from NIA CO, the auditors will look into the IA's cropping intensity, production, financial management, organizational discipline, and viability index among other indicators. The Tambulig Balogo Farmers Irrigators' Association, Inc. (TABAFIA) as seen here is located in Brgy. Balugo, Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur vies for the Most Outstanding IA under the National Irrigation System (NIS) category. NIA IX Regional Manager Engr. Mario H. Sande commends the said IA for all their hardwork that led to today's activity.

"We have 72 IAs regionwide and we give the same kind of programs and trainings to all IAs. What differs now is the kind of attitude and values the IA has, and this is where your IA excelled," he said.

NIA Region IX – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) conducts the Stakeholders Forum on Irrigation Development in the Province of Zamboanga del Norte, as well as the Mass Turnover of 24 Completed Irrigation Projects and Modified Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) Contract Signing, on September 20, 2018 at Missio Dei Hotel, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.

The forum aims to discuss the status of irrigation development in the region, as well as the status of the Agency’s on-going and future irrigation projects. On the other hand, the Signing of IMT Contract and the Mass Turnover of 24 Completed Irrigation Projects to respective Irrigators Associations (IAs) target to solicit the cooperation among stakeholders, government agencies, and other sectors of the community in efficient irrigation management towards the inclusive socio-economic growth and agricultural development of the country.

NIA Senior Deputy Administrator Abraham B. Bagasin, staff from Central and Regional Office, IAs, Local Government Units, Congressional Representatives of the provincial districts, some uniformed personnel, and other stakeholders are present in the event.

Isabela City, Basilan – Five (5) irrigation projects with a total project cost of 16 million was turned over to its respective Irrigators’ Associations (IAs) last August 4, 2018. NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, and Basilan Governor Jim S. Hataman Salliman, together with NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Romeo G. Gan, NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations C’zar M. Sulaik, Regional Manager Mario H. Sande, Lieutenant Colonel Jojo D. Montaner of 104 Brigade Philippine Army, and Basilan-Sulu-Tawitawi (BASULTA) Federation President Nasser Dammang graced the ceremonial mass turnover at Basilan State College Amphitheater, Isabela City.