The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in its Board Resolution No. 7678 – 11 adopted on March 14, 2011 authorized the creation of Regional Office No. IV-B. The creation was pursued by the various Representatives and Local Government Units officials comprising MIMAROPA or Region IV-B. The creation is in line with the geographical and political sub-division.
On his part, NIA Administrator Antonio S. Nangel said that the creation of NIA Region IV would hasten irrigation development in that new region considering that full attention could be given by the new organization. Region IV-B has a potential irrigable area of about 149,250 hectares and area developed as of today is only 45,500 ha or about 30%.
In a simple ceremony coinciding the awarding of recognition for Outstanding NIA and Irrigators Association held in Palawan on March 31, 2011, Administrator Nangel hand over the memorandum to Engr. Conrado V. Cardenas, Jr. designating him Interim Officer-In-Charge of the NIA Regional Office No. IV-B. It was witnessed by no less than DA Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Antonio A. Fleta, NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance, NIA Region IV-A Regional Manager Efren S. Roqueza and other NIA Officials. NIA Region IV-B will hold office at Calapan City, Mindoro Oriental.
MIMAROPA is the acronym for Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. Being an island region, Engr. Cardenas was challenged to place MIMAROPA in the mainstream of irrigation development to attain the government’s goal of rice self-sufficiency in three years’ time.
