Iloilo City - Support for the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) widens and continues to increase.This, with the success of the recent forum initiated by the project proponent, National Irrigation Administration (NIA).from left to right: Msgr. Exel Jaen, Iloilo Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Dennis Ventelacion, NIA 6 Regional Manager and JRMP II Project Manager Engr. Gerardo Corsiga, Korean Rural Community-Joint Venture (KRC-JV) Dam Designer Engr. Seung-ha Ryu, EDCF Manila Deputy Director Eunseok Roy Kim, Senate President Franklin Drilon, NIA Administrator Engr. Florencio Padernal, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, MGB 6 Regional Director Engr. Leo Van Juguan, NEDA 6 Asst. Regional Director Atty. Raul Anlocotan, Masaroy village IP Elder Romulo Caballero.Indigenous Peoples (IPs), farmers, Irrigators Associations (IAs), Non-Government Organizations and Government Agencies here gathered May 21, 2015,for said forum. Dubbed as the "National Peoples Forum for JRMP II," the event was graced by Ilonggo Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, NIA Administrator Engr. Florencio F. Padernal, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, and Mayors of the Municipalities covered by JRMP II. Important too is the unified support and presence of the provincial government of Iloilo through Atty. Dennis Ventilacion representing Governor Arthur D. Defensor, Sr. Also present were…...

DOE HQ, Taguig City - After a series of meetings and consultations, NIA Administrator Florencio Padernal and DOE Secretary Jericho Petilla finally signed on April 30, 2015 a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) regarding the development of Hydroelectric Power Plants along the irrigation canals of National Irrigation Systems (NISs) nationwide. At present, there is about 350 potential sites that are being eyed for projects with various power generation capacities ranging from 300 kW to 1000 kW and above. The NIA and DOE will jointly evaluate the potential project sites to ensure feasibility. Moreover, guidelines for the project are being finalized to ensure smooth implementation and optimum results. Sec. Petilla encouraged NIA to pursue the project in partnership with the private sector who will finance the construction and operation of the hydropower facilities. In line with this, an Investors' Forum is in the works to meet possible companies that will fund the projects. This endeavor will be a joint effort that will not just boost NIA's income generation but also will contribute in the provision of electricity in rural communities in the country. Once the projects are operational, NIA will continue to focus on the operation of the irrigation canals while incurring…...

Tukanalipao, Mamasapano will be under the government's eye again after the issue concerning the 44 SAF Commandos who bravely died in their line of duty last January. This time, Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization (OPAFSAM) Secretary Francis Pangilinan, with various government officials, went there on April 16, 2015, to oversee and to jumpstart a new NIA project called the Kabulnan River Irrigation System (KRIS)-Mamasapano Extension Project.OPAFSAM Secretary Kiko Pangilinan addresses the locals and other officials and guests during the presentation of the Kabulnan River Irrigation System (KRIS)-Mamasapano Extension Project on April 16, 2015 at Brgy. Tukanalipao, Mamasapano. With him in the photo are NIA Administrator Florencio Padernal and ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman.Secretary Pangilinan, together with NIA Administrator Florencio F. Padernal and Deputy Administrator Estrella E. Icasiano, met initially with ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman before visiting Tukanalipao to launch the new irrigation project that will benefit the farmers. "If the people have good harvest, we can have a sound economy," said Secretary Francis Pangilinan. One hundred and thirty hectares of farm lands covering 99 families will benefit from this peace project. Secretary Pangilinan also said that this project will help them "uplift their living conditions" after completion.…...

CANDON CITY, ILOCOS SUR - More than a thousand Ilocano farmers got a chance to raise their concerns on agriculture and irrigation when Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization (PAFSAM), Secretary Francis "Kiko" N. Pangilinan, and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Florencio F. Padernal jointly visit this city on March 26 to attend a Farmers' Forum organized and hosted by the Candon City local government headed by Mayor Ericson Singson. Also present during the forum were Ilocos Sur 2nd District Representative Eric Singson, NIA Deputy Administrator Estrella E. Icasiano, and NIA Region 1 Manager John N. Celeste.Candon City Mayor Ericson Singson and Ilocos Sur 2nd District Representative Eric Singson hand over the plaque of appreciation to OPAFSAM Secretary Kiko Pangilinan after delivering the keynote speech for 1,500 Ilocano farmers during the Farmers' Forum in Candon City on March 26.Before the forum, the sortie also went to the inauguration of the service road at Sta. Lucia-Candon River Irrigation System wherein Pangilinan in his message highlighted the importance of farmers in the country. He even quoted what his daughter told him when she was still nine years old that we must value the farmers like our parents because they feed…...

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…...