Bulacan farmers to benefit from 16 completed projects
THE National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has turned over 16 completed projects to irrigators groups of Bulacan that will benefit close to 5,000 farmers.
NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations engineer Josephine Salazar led the simple turnover ceremony held at a covered court in Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Monday.
It was followed by IA consultations and contract signing with the Bulacan Irrigation Management Office (IMO).
Salazar, who is also the concurrent NIA Region III manager, said that the completed projects, which cover calendar year 2023, will benefit a total of 4,466 farmers from 15 IAs of the province.
She was joined by the Provincial Government and Local Government Unit (LGU) officials of Bulacan, NIA Region III Bulacan IMO in turning over the 16 completed projects such as the BUSPAN Solar Pump Irrigation Project in Bustos, Repair and Rehabilitation of Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System (AMRIS) in San Rafael, ANBUSPA Solar Pump Irrigation Project in Bustos, Alagao Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in San Ildefonso, Cacarong CIS in Pandi, Maligaya CIS and Sibul CIS in San Miguel.
“Nagpapasalamat ako na natupad ang ating mga pangarap nang ipagkaloob sa amin ang proyekto para sa ating mga magsasaka. Patuloy pa rin pong pagkalooban ng mga nararapat na biyaya at proyekto ang aming samahan upang maipagpatuloy ang aming misyon na mapanatili ang sustainability ng ating agrikultura. Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat sa patuloy na suporta at tulong ng NIA,” CIS provincial federation president Rodrigo P. Villacorta said in his acceptance message.
And while NIA sees the farmer-irrigators as its main partners in pursuing the construction and development of irrigation projects nationwide, a consultative meeting was conducted for its ongoing and existing projects and future projects moving forward to CY 2025.
Issues and concerns of IA officials and members were also raised and addressed in the said forum.
“Kaya po tayo nandito ngayon para ikonsulta po namin sa inyo ang aming mga programa. Maganda ba ‘yong iniisip ng NIA? Ano ba ‘yong mas maganda? S’yempre po dapat manggaling sa inyo kasi po kayo ang 24/7 na nasa bukid. Kami pong mga empleyado ng NIA ay nakaagapay lamang pero ang nakakaramdam kung ano ‘yung pangangailangan pagdating po sa pansakahan ay kayo,” Salazar emphasized.
Partner government agencies of NIA also graced the event such as the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office III (DA RFO III), National Food Authority (NFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ,which also presented their plans and programs for FY 2025 that may assist farmers and fisherfolks.
Capping off the event, a simultaneous signing of the Modified Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) Contracts between NIA and 152 IAs in Bulacan was facilitated.
This will allow the implementation of Memorandum Circular No. 147, Series of 2023, increasing the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Subsidy from P150/HA/Cropping to P500/HA/Cropping.
