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Wednesday, April 26, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Twenty irrigators’ associations (IAs) in Negros Island Region were set to receive some P291 million worth of communal irrigation projects from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
The projects, whose constructions started last year, have infrastructure components like irrigation systems, diversion works, canalization, rehabilitation, and restoration, according to the NIA.
Since the projects were already operational, they will be turned over to the IAs, which will operate and maintain them.
The amount covers 15 projects in Negros Oriental (P264 million) and five in Negros Occidental (P27 million) for some 3,012 farmer-members, records at the NIA regional office showed.
Administrator Ricardo Visaya is expected to lead the mass turnover at the May’s Organic Garden in this city on May 2.
Engr. Mario Sande, NIA regional director, said they are now focused on increasing cropping intensity, generation and development of new areas, and rehabilitation and restoration of irrigation systems.
The NIA is committed to finding means to avail itself of various programs and interventions, including those for rice production, Sande said.
“We are supporting the rice self-sufficiency program,” he said, adding that they are “keen on the challenge of improving the lives of the individual farmers.”
Aside from the projects’ turnover, the NIA and 50 IAs will sign a modified irrigation management transfer contract.
The contract provides “standard” guidelines on operation and maintenance responsibilities of all parties in conformity with new policy on free irrigation service.
It specifically covers 9,708 farmers, comprising farmlands in central and south portions of Negros Occidental irrigated by Bago River Irrigation System and Pangiplan River Irrigation System. (PNA)
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