NIA-CAR HASTENS SERVICES, IRRIGATION PROJECTS ACROSS THE REGION

September 24, 2022 Provincial

The National Irrigation Administration – Cordillera (NIA-CAR) sustains its irrigation projects and services across the region. Marking the agency’s activities include the recent signing of marketing agreement
by two irrigator associations with with Aguda Fruits, Vegetables and Grains Trading at the NIA Apayao Irrigation Management Office (IMO).

The Malayugan Rice Granary Farmers Irrigators Association (IA) was represented by its President, Mr. Oliver B. Duque, Laga-Sta. Maria IA is represented by Mr. Petronilo Cortez while the Aguda Fruits, Vegetables and Grains Trading by its Owner Proprietress, Ms. Glen Joyce Mislang.l Engr. Samuel Bahiwag, Apayao IMO Manager, witnessed the activity.

“The agreement is in line with the program Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) of the national government with the goal to mitigate hunger, ensure food and nutrition security, and reduce poverty in the urban and rural communities, “ stated in the NIA-CAR social media page. NIA, as one of the supporting agencies, assists irrigators’ associations (IAs) and link them to other partner agencies or organizations as direct suppliers, for credit or other related support services.

In Tayum, Abra, Engr. Ronilio Cervantes, division manager for Engineering and Operations of NIA-CAR,
conducted site inspection of the ongoing repair of the canal portion of the Abra River Irrigation System which was previously damaged by the Magnitude 7 earthquake. According to Engr. Cervantes, the NIA targets to complete the repair by end of September as there was delay due to the continual occurrences of aftershocks in Abra in the second and third weeks of August; and construction activities and delivery of water are alternately done once a week to save standing crops.

All of the seven irrigation systems damaged during the earthquake are currently being repaired.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Irrigators’ Associations of the Upper Chico River Irrigation System (UCRIS) and the NIA Kalinga Irrigation Management Office (IMO) met and plan for the operation and maintenance (O&M) activities for the Dry and Wet Crop Seasons 2023 which was held recently at NIA-Kalinga IMO Compound, Bulanao, Tabuk City.

The IAs of UCRIS Tabuk and Pinukpuk, Kalinga, as well as those of Quezon and Mallig, Isabela
prepared their O&M plans, including cropping calendar and pattern of planting water delivery and
distribution schedule, and system maintenance plan. Among the agreement reached during the joint activity include the following: UCRIS Water Delivery for Dry Crop Season 2023 will commence on December 1, 2022; UCRIS irrigation water cutoff will be on May 1, 2023 – June 30, 2023; 3. UCRIS Water Delivery for Wet Crop Season 2023 will be on July 1, 2023.

Primo Agatep/ABN