THE National Irrigation Administration Bohol-Cebu-Siquijor Irrigation Management Office recently conducted the 12th Bohol Provincial NIA-Irrigators Association (IA) Congress for Communal Irrigation Systems from November 17-18, 2022, held at Reyna’s the Haven and Gardens, Tagbilaran City.
The IA Congress served to provide status updates and developments and gather concerns and needs from the IA. It also informed the 157 IA Presidents and Representatives in attendance on the programs and services of the Provincial Government and its different line agencies.
In his welcome address, Engr. Danilo M. Bugnos Jr., Acting Bohol-Cebu-Siquijor Irrigation Management Office Manager, expressed his sincere appreciation to all in attendance for making this undertaking possible. He stated that this endeavor is aimed to strengthen the relationship and camaraderie between NIA, partner LGUs, other line agencies, and IAs. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of the IAs in their role and responsibility in taking care of the irrigation systems and services in the province.
This was further highlighted by Engr. Orencio M. Apale, Engineering and Operations Division Manager in his inspirational message. He said that without the members of the IAs, the farmers, there would be no NIA. The IAs are the “new heroes” because of their efforts in the farms, especially in the rice field, with the help of NIA infrastructures to secure food for the province.
He also said that through this two-day activity, NIA can share with the farmers or IAs success stories and best practices in managing an irrigation system. Moreover, inform the IAs regarding the Enhancing Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty Program (EPAHP) empower the farmers toward food sufficiency in the province.
He hopes that the endeavor will be successful and be an IA congress worth remembering. This endeavor will further develop and improve the practices of farmers who cultivate crops through the infrastructure projects of NIA to ensure food security for the people.
Atty. Abel Damalerio, representing 1 st District Congressman Edgar M. Chatto said that the IAs are the frontliners in the fight against hunger, and works towards the development of Boholanos. And this responsibility will motivate farmers to overcome many challenges that may come. IA members or officers know their responsibility and in turn encourage everyone to push towards the goal of meeting food sufficiency in the province.
He said that this activity will also improve knowledge and learnings on how to further develop the IAs. He encouraged all the participants to listen and participate in all the activities of the conference as this is the best take away that they can bring home with them to their respective barangays: the knowledge that NIA, partner LGUs, and their offices are there to help the farmers.
He also encouraged all the IA presidents to echo what they’ve learned to other farmers and members of their association. He opined that the fruits of cooperation will be the best gift this Christmas, and for many years. He also believed that this conference and the cooperation of everyone in the agricultural sector, the agricultural sector of Bohol is in good hands.
Edgar del Rosario, Chief of Staff who represented 2nd District Congresswoman Maria Vanessa C. Aumentado said this is a welcome activity as it’s very important for irrigators to understand that while a pandemic disease is difficult, a pandemic of hunger would be even more difficult to bear. He noted that most farmers have not yet planted because the price of rice is really not good. This problematic situation is compounded by the fact that many farmers have chosen to raise tilapia instead of planting rice. He expressed his hope that this shift will not continue; otherwise, the time will come when there might not be any harvest when no farmer wants to plant anymore.
He recounts their office during the term of the former governor and former congressman in the 15th Congress, Erico Boyles Aumentado, who saw the problem of our farmers and made initiatives to address them. The former governor and congressman wanted to increase production and the harvest through the use of a hybrid rice variety that yielded a bigger harvest. But income of Boholano farmers remained low. Second, in 2011, he supported farmers with fertilizers to enable them to do a third cropping. Lastly, he brought farmers along with Boy Pernia, his confidant for agriculture, at his own expense for a benchmarking activity in Nueva Ecija, in order for them to see first-hand the practices of farmers there and learn from them.
During the time of Congressman Aris Aumentado, the farmers and the irrigators were also given adequate attention with a livelihood program. As this livelihood program was through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the irrigators’ associations in the Second District were registered with the DOLE. These IAs were assigned a person to assist them so that they can receive livelihood assistance.
Del Rosario said that this is what Congresswoman Vanessa Aumentado is doing today in the 2nd district. Her office continues to support farmer-members of IAs because she firmly believes that what farmers do is important for the community. Del Rosario emphasized that if no one grows rice, the Boholanos won’t have any rice to eat and will have to rely on imports from other countries. This would be time of the pandemic of hunger.
He reiterated that Congresswoman Maria Vanessa C Aumentado and her office is committed to the continued support of our brothers and sisters in the agriculture sector, especially the irrigators association. Our office is always open and staffed.
Atty. Jiselle Rae A. Villamor, 2nd District Board Member represented Governor Aris Aumentado, and said that the NIA is one of the most popular and controversial agencies of the government. She remembers the saying of her grandfather Erico Boyles Aumentado, “Basta Aumentado Kabasakan Irrigado.” NIA is a very popular agency because it has a direct impact on Food Security in the country and in the province. As Filipinos eat three or more times a day, there is a need to plant and produce sufficient quantities of rice.
Bohol is dependent on the 304 Communal Irrigation System (CIS) of the province for its food security.
Hence, the Provincial Government under the administration of Gov. Aris Aumentado is in full support of programs for Food Security. There is the rice clustering for the 5,000 hectares with free hybrid seeds and technical support from the Provincial Agriculture Office from the preparation of the land, to planting and machinery support. There’s also the buyback program apart from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). The provincial government of Bohol has a counterpart fertilizer support program. Board Member Villamor also disclosed that from their budget hearing in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the budget is roughly 241 million for our farmers and fishermen, with roughly 149 million for the development fund for farmers.
BM Villamor assured everyone in attendance that the government is always there to help and support the farmers. For her, personally, she advocates for the refocusing of resources on programs that can sustain the farmers in the long run. Among these would be irrigation dams that will enable farmers to continue and improve their production. She further stated that she was happy that the program now includes capacitation, teaching, because the Mandanas ruling on devolution will actually be implemented. She said that she will talk to the NIA officials regarding a possible benchmarking program for the IAs so that they can observe best practices in other places and apply these in Bohol.
BM Villamor underlined that through the initiatives of NIA, the provincial government of Bohol will really realize its objective of food security and economic growth of this province through the strengthening of our agricultural sector. She concluded that the provincial government with the NIA & IAs continue to move forward and always remember that farmers come first. (MAEP)
