CABANATUAN CITY – Farmer-leaders of irrigator groups from Nueva Ecija and Aurora hailed the National Irrigation Administration-Regional Office 3 in Central Luzon for the increased subsidy given to them in the operation of irrigation systems from P150 to P500 per hectare in every cropping season.

“Salamat at patuloy na nabibiyayaan ang mga magsasaka tulad po ng dagdag sa IMT, ito po ay malaking tulong po sa aming pangangailangan. Nagpapasalamat po ang pederasyon ng Nueva Ecija sa mga taga-NIA sa patuloy n’yo pong pagtangkilik at pagbibigay ng mga proyekto sa amin,” said Federation president Gregorio T. Alcantara during the turnover of completed projects and contract-signing activities under the Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office of the NIA-Region III-Central Luzon held at the Division 3 Events Center inside the UPRIIS compound on Friday.

NIA-OIC Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations and concurrent NIA-Region III head Engr. Josephine B. Salazar led the activity that was also graced by farmer-leaders of 19 irrigator associations and representatives from partner agencies such as the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 3, the National Food Authority (NFA), and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

Highlights of the event included the turnover of 19 completed projects that were finished in 2022 and 2023 to 19 irrigator associations having 1,637 farmer-beneficiaries and the contract-signing of the NIA’s Modified Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) which provides an increase in the farmer’s operations and maintenance (O&M) subsidy from P150 to P500 per hectare for every cropping season.

The IMT provides for a “whole of government” strategy to strengthen farmer control over water and irrigation infrastructure to achieve desired high farm outputs, said Salazar.

The completed projects for 2022 included the Bibiclat CIP, Cabileo CIP, Paitan CIP, Simimbaan SWIP, Agupalo Este CIP, Canaan East Capisungan PIP, Casilagan SWIP, Lusok CIP, Danasa CIP, Salwit SWIP, San Antonio CIP, Popolon CIP, Betania CIP, Binumbunan CIP, Cordero CIS while for 2023, these were the Sagaba CIS, San Agustin CIS, Ted Ted Ti Ling-It CIS, and Bulalakay CIS.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Steve A. Gosuico