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APRIL – JUNE 2016 ISSUE NIA INAUGURATES REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER Urdaneta City — A thanksgiving mass was just concluded when NIA Administrator Engr. Florencio F. Padernal, DPA arrived early morning on May 6, 2016 to spearheaded the ribbon cutting and unveiling of the marker for the Regional Training Center (RTC) in simple inauguration rites held at the NIA Compound, Bayaoas Road, Urdaneta City. Padernal was assisted by host NIA Region 1 officials led by RIM John N. Celeste, EOD Manager Frida L. Nidoy, AFD Manager Remedios T. Tuliao, TIARI President Dominador B. Aquino and the all Irrigation Management Officers (IMOs) representing the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. Later, top performing irrigators associations in the region were duly acknowledged and awarded their certificate of recognition by Padernal who was the guest of honor and speaker, and NIA officials for their exemplary performance in the area of ISF collection efficiency, cropping intensity and organizational strengthening which was derived from the recent functionality survey conducted by the regional office. A photo exhibit featuring the accomplishments and status of various irrigation projects in the pipe line which includes the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP) and the Agno River NIA officials headed by RIM John N. Celeste pose with NIA Administrator Florencio F. Padernal during the ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the inauguration of the Regional Training Center. See NIA Inaugurates on page 5 Bued CIS Adjudged 4th Runner-Up Outstanding IA By: Cynthia de Guzman-Panit In 2009, the Bued # 1 Communal Irrigation System was totally damaged due to typhoon “Pepeng”. The Association under the auspices of La Union IMO who was once a recipient of award of NIA’s Annual Search for Outstanding IAs in 2007 was poignant and unproductive for 5 long years. Some of its members during that time already transferred to other places to look for a job. Others testified that their children had to stopped their studies because of financial problems. The Association went to different government agencies, LGUs and NGOs that could possibly help them restore their system. Since it needs a huge amount of money, complete restoration seems impossible. But the officers lead by IA President Victoriano Petina The Bued CIS Dam 1 ISA, Inc. headed by IA President Victoriano Petina Jr. Jr. did not lose hope and very optimistic that they will surmount all together with RIM John N. Celeste, IMO Manager Gaudencio M. de Vera the test in their lives. They strongly believed that someday, a grace and some IA officers as they received their plaque of appreciation and cash from God will come. prize as 4th Runner-Up in the 2015 Annual Search for Outstanding IAs (CIS Category) duing the 53rd NIA Anniversary last June 22, 2016 held at the NIA See Bued CIS on page 5 Central Office, EDSA, Diliman, Quezon City. 2 ANO Pump Project Takes Off; PAIS Chief Graces Farmers Assume NIA CAN Launching Management Responsibility Urdaneta City — Public Affairs and Information Staff (PAIS) Manager Filipina P. Bermudez, guest of honor and speaker, lauded the effort of NIA Region 1 Director Engr. John N. Celeste for the successful launching of NIA-IA Communication and Advocacy Network (NIA CAN) on April 8, 2016 held at the new Regional Training Center (RTC) at the NIA Compound, Bayaoas, Urdaneta City. The project induction which was well-attended by irrigation management stakeholders composed of government agencies, IA Federation officials, NIA R1 officials and members of the local media centred on the salient features of Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) and Irrigation Service Fee (ISF) which was ably discussed by Dr. Leo L. Gallego, a seasoned trainer from the NIA Central Office. In her speech, Ms. Bermudez recalled how the NIA CAN was conceptualized in Caliraya Resort, Laguna during the last year’s Public Relations Officers’ (PROs) annual planning and accomplishment review under the auspices of the PAIS. She explained that the regional office’s communication plan (ComPlan) is an annual report required to be carried out by the PROs. The formulation and development of a ComPlan for every region, she said, is important in order for NIA to lay down clearly Acting PIMO Manager Teodoro D. Paragas (seated) hands over the official what it wants to convey with the farmers and stakeholders, receipt in the amount of Php 100,459.04 representing the initial amortization fee and the ways in which such objectives can be accomplished or for the Ano Pump Irrigation Project to the officials of Boquig Farmer’s Irrigators achieved in a continuous and sustainable manner. In Region Association, Inc. headed by IA President Juanito Flores (2nd from left), Vice President Juanito de Ocampo and Treasurer Rolando Ocampo. Witnessing the 1, the NIA CAN was envisioned as a functional stakeholders’’ vent are Julius Macaraeg, NIA Institutional Development Officer and Shirley network which will harmonize different ideas and though strategic Ducusin, Supervising IDO. partnership. San Carlos City — The Boquig Farmer’s Irrigators Primarily, the network will serve as a catalytic instrument in Association, Inc.(BFIA) remitted its first annual amortization the promotion and fulfilment of the key message of “Nurturing fee amounting to Php 100,459.04 last May 30, 2016 to Irrigators Associations towards Improved Agricultural Services. the NIA RO1 Pangasinan Irrigation Management Office Bermudez added, that this goal can be achieved through regular meetings where dialogues among the stakeholders. Stakeholder (PIMO) headed by Engr. Teodoro D. Paragas. Representatives who attended the launching of the NIA CAN include the Department of Agriculture, DENR, PAGASA, the The initial remittance is in fulfilment with the agreement Civil Service Commission, Local Government of Urdaneta City provisions’ for the management of the ANO Pump (represented by the City Agriculturist), Philippine Information Irrigation Project situated at Barangay Ano, San Carlos Agency (Pangasinan), KBP (Pangasinan), NIA Employees City, Pangasinan. Association (Region 1), the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Pangasinan) and TIAR1, the Federation of Irrigators Association in Region 1. The communal project which has a potential area of 40 hectares to be irrigated has a chargeable cost of Php 5,022,951.86 payable within 50 years. Upon turn over, the BFIA shall assume full responsibilities for the operation and maintenance of the system in accordance with its association by-laws and articles of incorporation. Prior to the project turnover, the NIA has shouldered the cost of administrative services, investigation and preliminary surveys, plan preparation and other pre-construction engineering activities which includes institutional development aimed at organizing, strengthening and capacitating the BFIA which has 59 farmer beneficiaries. The project was properly turned over by the NIA to the BFIA on December 10, 2013. Guest of Honor Ms. Pilipina P. Bermudez, manager of NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff, gamely answered questions from the participants during the open forum of the launching of NIA CAN. 3 EDITORIAL A Paradigm Shift on President Duterte’s Irrigation Service Free This story happened more than a decade ago. In an open demonstrate an impromptu “bayanihan” to the delight of everyone. field, a musical concert for a cause was to begin in about Meanwhile, the incoming Secretary of the Department of Agriculture 30 minutes when the musical director ordered his point recently admonished NIA officials to think outside the box relative man, a mechanical engineer to move the huge stage from to the impending abolition of Irrigation Service Fee (ISF) which is where it was erected to a few meters closer to the front non-negotiable. During a transition meeting which he arranged with seats. Under pressure, the engineer who supervised top NIA officials, the Secretary reiterated President-elect Duterte’s the construction of the structure panicked. He was marching order to stop the collection of ISF beginning 2017 and even overwhelmed of the herculean task which was suddenly urged them to come up with strategies for its efficient implementation. passed on to him by his boss. Caught flat-footed, the engineer was visibly jumpy and sweating profusely for it It is understandable why up to now, many NIAN’s find themselves was way beyond his comrpehension how he will be able in a dilemma, just like the bewildered engineer who cracked under to carry out his “mission impossible” - that is to dismantle pressure. Undoubtedly, they are anxious of the fact that it is the and reassemble the whole structure in time for the show. source of their bread and butter which is at stake in this case. Sensing trouble, the director shook his head in dismay, Likewise, many of them are also weary of the agency’s diminished grabbed a microphone, went near the stage and politely capacity to fulfil its lawful mandate when the ISF becomes a thing of asked the surprised crowd (which was then beginning the past come January 2017. to swell) to move the stage to the exact spot where his finger was pointing. Without hesitation, the spectators Although fear of the unknown has crept in because of the unexpected readily complied in unison. They rushed to the stage and turn of events, it is during these crucial times when the people at the moved it as instructed like a walk in the park. There was helm are expected to get their acts together quickly and formulate no need to “dismantle and reassemble” the whole thing brilliant ideas, devising alternative plan of actions for the welfare of after all, for such idea was just a projection of the poor the beleaguered Filipino farmers and the employees of the National engineer’s lack of creativity. The instruction was quite Irrigation Administration as well. As the old cliché goes: “You can only clear: “Move that thing, stupid – did I say knock it down”? fight the problem when you start solving it”.

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