LA UNION - The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) turned-over on Mach 31 the Bued #1 Communal Irrigation System (CIS) and the Tumapoc CIS to irrigators associations (IAs) in Rosario and Burgos towns of this province. These two CISs, from then on, will be managed and operated by the IAs.
The Bued #1 CIS in Rosario, La Union is successfully turned-over to the Bued CIS Dam #1 Irrigators Service Association, Inc headed by its President Victoriano P. Petina, Jr. (2nd from L) by the National Irrigation Administration-Region 1 (NIA-R1) headed by its manager Engr. John N. Celeste. Also present in the ceremony were (from L-R) NIA-PAIS Manager Pilipina P. Bermudez, NIA-R1 EOD Manager Frida L. Nitoy, and Engr. Florante Zarate representing Rosario Mayor Bellarmin C. Flores III.
Bued # 1: Everything is God's purpose
Bued #1 serves four barangays of Rosario, namely Tay-ac, Camp-one, Subusub, and Tabtabungao with 343 IA members as beneficiaries. NIA La Union Acting Division Manager Gaudencio M. de Vera explained that before Typhoon Pepeng damaged a big portion of the irrigation system in 2009, Bued #1 irrigates 250 hectares. After the restoration, repair and rehabilitation efforts amidst lack of funding, it presently irrigates 300 hectares.
In his emotional acceptance speech, IA President Jun Petina said that everything is God's purpose. They may have experienced hardships for several years, now, they have this irrigation operation back-a blessing in disguise having added 50 hectares to its original firmed-up area.
Second District Representative Eufranio Eriguel on the other hand paid tribute to the farmers who produce food to be served in our dining tables. In addition to that, Board Member Bellarmin Flores II encouraged them to improve their production with the help of the turned-over irrigation project for the consumers who will drop-by the municipality after the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) ends in their town.
Meanwhile, NIA Spokesperson and Public Affairs and Information Staff (PAIS) Department Manager Pilipina P. Bermudez, representing NIA Administrator Florencio F. Padernal as guest speaker, told the audience that what Administrator Padernal and Sec. Francis Pangilinan have always wanted that the farmers' income to increase resulting from irrigation. She also added that increasing yield is not the sole indication, but improved living condition of farmers due to irrigation is what is desired.
With positive perspective, Bermudez and NIA Region I Manager John N. Celeste challenged the IA to regain their triumph as one of the most outstanding IAs in the entire Philippines after bagging second in the year 2007 when the irrigation was not yet damaged.
Tumapoc CIS: Changing lives thru irrigation
On the other hand, Tumapoc CIS, a NIA-CARP-IC project in coordination with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA) under ARISP III covers 62 hectares of farmland with 91 IA members as beneficiaries.
Burgos Vice Mayor Juanito Gacayan asked the IA to love the project for their own good. Likewise, DAR Director Homer Tobias told the farmers that the life of their children and grandchildren relies on how they will operate and maintain the project.
Furthermore, RIM Celeste presented NIA's plan to (help) build offices for the IAs so that they have permanent mailing address and for them to conduct regular meetings as well as administering seminars and/or trainings for the improvement of their association.
Bermudez, on the other hand, said that changing lives through irrigation is what Administrator Padernal expected. She also insisted the importance of irrigation in farming as the primary ingredient in growing the crops. She also told what the administrator expects when he visits-progress in their way of living - big houses and diplomas displayed in their houses.
Finally, Burgos Mayor Jose Abansi expressed his gratitude to NIA, DAR and JICA for providing the project to his constituents. He proudly said that thru this project, the farmers have finally reached third crop in a year. "Inot-inot, rumang-ay tayo (Slowly, we will progress). Soon, Lower Tumapoc (irrigation site) will be the rice granary of Burgos," he ended.
NIA Spokesperson Pilipina P. Bermudez affixes her initials under the name of Administrator Florencio F. Padernal in the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with DAR Regional Director Homer Tobias during the turnover rites of the Tumapoc CIP in Burgos, La Union. Looking on were (from L-R) La Union IMO Acting Manager Gaudencio de Vera, NIA-R1 Manager John N. Celeste, NIA-R1 EOD Manager Frida Nidoy, DAR Provincial Project Manager Atty. Raul C. Laluan, and Upper Lower Tumapoc-Delles IA President Cresencio Apilado.
