LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – National Irrigation Administration-CAR’s top official, Regional Manager Benito Espique, Jr. and Benguet Provincial Governor Melchor Diclas led the turnover of nine irrigation projects to various Irrigators’ Associations (IA) in the province at the Benguet Sports Complex Gymnasium in Brgy. Wangal on April 21, 2022.
These projects currently serve 205 hectares benefitting 310 farmers in five municipalities. The projects are under the Balikatan Sagip Patubig Program (BSPP) have a total cost of about 36.9 million pesos with NIA counterpart of P27.9 million and LGU counterpart of P8.2 million, funded in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
BSPP projects are undertaken jointly by the NIA and local government units (LGUs) with the Irrigators’ Associations. The NIA first turned over the irrigation systems to the Provincial Local Government (PLU) and the PLGU turned the over to the Irrigators’ Associations represented by the officers.
With the turnover done, the Irrigators’ Associations will now be in charge in the operation and maintenance of the irrigation systems.
Five of the irrigation systems are located in the Municipality of Kapangan. These are the Central Liko Baguiengey Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in Brgy. Pongayan which was turned over to Baguiengey-Bawi-Liko Farmers Association Inc., Paykek CIS in Brgy. Paykek turned over to Paykek Farmers IA Inc., Sacburoy CIS in Brgy. Cuba turned over to SSGD Farmers IA Inc., Catlan-Odjao CIS in Brgy. Balakbak to Balakbak Farmers IA Inc., and Taba-ao CIS in Brgy. Taba-ao to ABUDICK IA Inc.
Other irrigation systems turnover are Cobicob CIS in Brgy. Ansagan which was turned to Cobicob Farmers IA Inc., Tuba, Dalupirip CIS in Itogon to Dalupirip Federation of Farmers IA Inc., Baugan Cayapas CIS in Brgy. Baculongan Sur, Buguias turned over to APOBACA IA, and Tanubong Spring-Agaki CIS in Brgy. Balili, Mankayan to Agaki Tanubong Agri Farmers IA Inc.
“Our NIA office will always be open to Irrigators’ Associations despite the devolution implementation,” assured Engr. Benito Espique, Jr. during the event. “Let us strengthen NIA-LGU-IA cooperation, and work together towards irrigation development in Benguet,” he added.
Antonio Ciano, president of the Baguiengey-Bawi-Liko Farmers Association Inc., expressed gratitude to NIA and Benguet PLGU for the project and acceptance of the responsibility in the operation and maintenance of the irrigation project so that it will last.
Photo caption 1: NIA-CAR Regional Manager Benito T. Espique, Jr. hands over the documents of the completed irrigation projects to Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas who also turned them over to the leaders of Irrigators’ Associations during the mass turnover of irrigation projects in Benguet at the Benguet Sports Complex in Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet, April 21. The nine projects were jointly funded by the NIA and PLGU under the Balikatan Sagip Patubig Program. With the officials are (from left to right) Mr. Euristy Canuto, representative of Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin, Board Member Roberto Canuto and NIA-Benguet Satellite Office Head Godofredo Velaque.
Photo Caption 2: Mr. Harvey Dionisio, president of the ABUDICK Irrigators Association (IA) Inc., and the other officers of the organization accept the turnover documents of the Taba-ao Communal Irrigation System (CIS) from Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas and NIA-CAR Manager Benito Espique, Jr. Taba-ao CIS is one of the 9 projects turned over to the respective IAs during the Mass Turnover of Irrigation Projects in Benguet jointly funded by the NIA and Benguet PLGU through the Balikatan Sagip Patubig Program (BSPP).