BONTOC, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE – NIA Mountain Province Satellite Office turned over 10 irrigation systems to Irrigators’ Associations in a simple turnover ceremony at the NIA Grounds, Caluttit, Mountain Province on October 1, 2021.
These irrigation systems are Gonogon Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in Brgy. Gonogon, Bontoc which was turned over to Agasil IA, Talaktak CIS in Brgy. Poblacion, Paracelis to Tapinit-Amolong Rice IA, Tudoy Tafangao Small Irrigation System (SIS) in Brgy. Alunogan, Natonin to Ornungan FIA, Mabatawil SIS in Brgy. Tamboan, Besao to Kuwangi IA, Tue CIS in Brgy. Tue, Tadian to Itue FIA, Maballi CIS, Fokong CIS, Namakchad CIS, all three located in Brgy. Sacasacan, Sadanga to Maballi Sacasacan FIA, Gilom CIS in Brgy. Bagnen, Bauko to Baccong Talikod IA, and Data Guilom CIS in Brgy. Tetep-an, Sagada to Kiltepan FIA.
A total of 220 hectares with 911 farmers is benefitted by these 10 projects. The Irrigators’ Associations will now be in charge in the operation and maintenance of the irrigation systems.
NIA-Mountain Province Satellite Office Provincial Head Liza Jane Challikis thanked the local government units and the irrigators’ associations for their various contributions to the successful completion of the irrigation projects.
“Edwani ay inyali yu nan danum, baken keg ed kasin ay amam-a ya inin-a nan mensapsapos payas asida py mensama. Ngem edwani wada nan kanan da en nalaklaka ay pansamaan tako tay iyali nan NIA nan panlakaan; sementoen da et adi kagkagday. Anggay nan maintenance nan ublaen mi ay farmers,” said Asuncion Baglao, president of Itue Farmers and Irrigators’ Associations in Tadian. [Now that you have brought water, it was different from the past when it was the elder men and women who set up irrigation canals before they start farming. Now, it is easier to farm because NIA made it easier; canals were concreted and not prone to slides. All we, farmers, have to do is maintenance.”]
“Agapasalamat tayo ken Apo Diyos, tay nu baken siya, maid sannay benepisyo. Gapo tay inted na, kanana ited Ko ngem protektaran yu ah tapno bumaybayag ay matago san irigasyon,” urged Engr. Abraham Akilit, Municipal Mayor of Bauko, and former Regional Manager of NIA-CAR. [We thank the Lord, for without him, we do not have this benefit. Because He provided it, he also said that it had to be protected so that the irrigation can last longer.]
The turnover ceremony is also attended by Atty. Cyphrine Dalog of the Office of Congressman Maximo Dalog, Jr., IA Provincial Federation President Clement Sokoken, IA Federation Vice President Ezra Gomez, Mr. Julian Chumacog of the Office of Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey, and Sadanga Mayor Gabino Ganggangan.
“Salamat kadakayo nga NIA ta nu awan kayo nga mangaramid ti validation ken iti recommendation ti project awan metlaeng iti kaya mi nga farmers, ta ada met ti endorsement iti probinsya. Sapay kuma ta itultuloy yu nga LGU nga mang-asikaso nu matul-tuloy to ti turnover,” said Fausto F. Morareng, President of Maballi Sacasacan Farmers and Irrigators Association. [Thank you to NIA for without you who does the validation and recommendation of projects, we farmers cannot do it, and the province [LGU] endorses projects. We hope the LGU will continue to tend to our irrigation needs in case turnover will push through.]
IA President Morareng was referring to the devolution plans per Executive Order No. 138 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations mandating the National Government to begin transferring certain functions to LGUs. The Supreme Court Mandanas-Garcia ruling affirmed that local government units are entitled to a “just share” on all national taxes collected and not only from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
With the Mandanas-Garcia ruling implementation starting in 2022, LGUs will have an estimate increase of 27.61% in the overall Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) shares.
With the increased budget share, the LGUs are expected to assume delivery of services which have been devolved to them under Republic Act 7160, the Local Government Code of 1991.
Among the functions assigned to local governments based on the Local Government Code is communal irrigation.
NIA has started coordinating with various LGUs in preparation for the implementation of the devolution plan.
Photo Caption: Leaders of Irrigators’ Associations in Mountain Province accepted the Certificates of Acceptance of 10 irrigation systems during the simple turnover ceremony at NIA Mountain Province Satellite Office in Caluttit, Bontoc on October 10. With the IA leaders are Engr. Liza Jane Challikis, provincial head of NIA-Mountain Province Satellite Office, Atty. Cyphrine Dalog of the Office of Congressman Maximo Dalog, Jr., Bauko Mayor Abraham Akilit who was a former NIA-CAR Regional Manager, IA Provincial Federation President Clement Sokoken, IA Federation Vice President Ezra Gomez, Mr. Julian Chumacog of the Office of Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey, and Sadanga Mayor Gabino Ganggangan.