OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION VOLUME 22, NO.4, 2015 Farmers receive irrigation projects, gov’t vows for improved services Lioneil G. dela Cruz, PAIS-CO Leaders of Regional Federation of Attending the grand occasion representing He also added that the government is Irrigators Associations (RFIAs) from and delivering the message of President doing its best to uplift the agriculture all over the country convened on July Benigno Aquino III is Presidential sector. He said, “Doble kayod tayo 23, 2015 at the Newport Performing Assistant for Food Security and upang isulong ang sector ng agrikultura Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila, Agricultural Modernization, Secretary kung saan buhay na buhay ang mga Pasay City to ceremonially receive Francis Pangilinan. The President, pananim, buhay na buhay ang kabuhayan more than 400 recently-completed through Pangilinan, highlighted the ng mga magsasaka, at buhay na irrigation projects from the National importance of the agriculture sector to buhay ang ating ekonomiya.” Irrigation Administration (NIA) during the country’s economy as it is the one the Mass Turnover of Completed feeding the whole nation. The speech also pointed out that Irrigation Projects. The total cost through these projects, more farmers of turned over projects is roughly Aquino emphasized that the completion can now enjoy more than 2 croppings about Php3.5B covering an area of of these irrigation projects will ensure per year that can push the country to 124,633.54 hectares with 48,234 the improvement of lives of the farmers, even export rice unlike before that we farmer-beneficiaries. These projects increasing palay production, and import from other countries. are composed of both communal and providing food for the Filipino people. national irrigation systems. continued on page 2 Page 4 – (EDITORIAL) Page 10 (SIGNIFICANT EVENTS) WHAT’S INSIDE? – VIG... What’s Up? – NIA RO1 Launches ARISEP Page 5 – (PLANS AND PROGRAMS) Page 11 – Partnership Built in Water Page 2 – (STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP) – NIA Administrator Visits Two Major Projects Page 12 - 13 – (IA SUCCESS STORIES) – Message of His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino in Caraga – IRPEP and Loog IA: Partners in Women III President of the Philippines during the Mass – BBMP Coming into Reality Empowerment Turnover of Completed Irrigation Projects and Page 6 – NIA websites to be “Drupalized” Page 14 - 15 – (LIMELIGHT) National Convention of Irrigators Associations Page 7 – PIDP continues its Implementation The Anatomy of a Wallflower: My Story as a Resorts World Manila, Pasay City July 23, 2015 Progress as the Project draws to completion NIA employee Page 3 – Gov’t Agencies announce ‘next steps’ Page 8 – Davao Holds Administrative and Page 16 – (Health & WELLNESS) for IAs Finance Mid-Year Review for CY 2015 Bakit Payat pero Malakas kumain? Bakit Page 9 – PHOTO NEWS Mataba pero Mahina kumain? pANGILINAN TENDERS RESIGNATION AS PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT Posted on the website of the Office of the even during the lean months– a factor in Presidential Assistant for Food Security the lowering of the inflation rate which is and Agriculture Modernization (OPAFSAM) now at .6%. The average price per metric on September 15, 2015 ton of rice imports was also reduced, from USD $560 to USD $440 through a Secretary Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan tendered transparent prices that allowed for the his resignation as Presidential Assistant rejection of bid offers that were too costly. for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization. In a letter dated September The increase in the circulation of NFA rice 8, 2015 addressed to President Benigno resulted to the lowering of rice prices from Simeon Aquino III, Pangilinan expressed Php 44.00 per kilogram for well-milled his gratitude to the President for his trust, rice and almost P41 per kilogram or regular confidence, and support. milled rice to Php 33.00 per kilogram at present. The NFA turned in a profit of Php “The support extended by His Excellency 1.8 billion in 2014, for the first time in two and the Cabinet has been crucial in decades. addressing the challenges in the agriculture sector and the government’s vision of Four big-ticket irrigation projects worth good governance and inclusive growth.” close to Php 30 billion were approved by President Aquino appointed then former the National Economic and Development Senator Pangilinan as Presidential Assistant Authority (NEDA), such as the Balog Balog for Food Security and Agricultural High Dam Project, Jalaur Multipurpose Modernization on 5 May 2014 through Dam Project, Umayam River Irrigation Executive Order No. 70, transferring four System Project, Agno River Irrigation agencies under the Department of Project, Casecnan Irrigation Project, and Agriculture to the Office of the President: the Malinao Irrigation Project. More than the National Food Authority (NFA), National 400 irrigation facilities were turned over Irrigation Administration (NIA), Philippine during Pangilinan’s term. Coconut Authority (PCA), and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) through The coconut scale insect infestation from Executive Order No. 175 signed on the outbreak level is now down to manageable same day. level, with only 1 hotspot remaining out of 57. In a mission report dated May 2015, “The appointment as Presidential Assistant the United Nation Food and Agriculture has provided a unique opportunity to Organization (FAO) described the serve the country, further expanding our OPAFSAM-PCA cocolisap intervention understanding of the needs of our people effort as commendable and praiseworthy. and the intricacies of governance,” added Pangilinan’s resignation is effective end Sec. Pangilinan. of office hours of September 30, 2015. The Secretary hopes that the time period Under Pangilinan’s helm, reforms were will be sufficient for the necessary transition instituted in the four agencies, with cases for the four agencies and for the President filed against erring employees and those to decide on his replacement. they are in cahoots with. The NFA put in place reforms in their importation process “It has been an honor serving under and made unprecedented rejection of your administration. I continue to bids that were not to the benefit of the wish for your success and for a better country. This resulted to the lowering of future for the Philippines,” Pangilinan rice prices ended. ## OPAFSAM 2 NIA CURRENTS | VOLUME 22, NO.4, 2015 NIA CURRENTS | VOLUME 22, NO.4, 2015 3 Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole person – not just an employee – are more productive, more satisfied, more fulfilled. Satisfied employees mean satisfied customers, which leads to profitability. “ - Anne M. Mulcahy, former chairperson and CEO of Xerox Corporation EDITORIAL ” VIG... what’s up? A service-oriented agency, NIA seeks to improve and sustain its operation as a government- owned-and-controlled corporation. In 1984, Viability Incentive Grant beginning on December 31, 2011 (VIG) was provided through amount collected was P 1.103 B ; Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 3 in 2012 at P 1.350 B; in 2013 at P as approved under Board Resolution 1.555 B; and, in 2014 at P1.804 B. No. 4043-83 on December 19, 1983. It aims to motivate NIA field To be viable, all strategies have offices “to attain and maintain financial been planned, agreed and viability while maintaining satisfactory accomplished. Attained viability is field office personnel who performed performance in programmed a result of field offices’ formulating and a higher level of accomplishment activities”. VIG was provided as a engaging on time-tested strategies, and gave their utmost participation supplement to existing incentives often times out-of-the-box approaches to attain viability. Jobs must be performed and bonuses. It is a monetary combined with commitment, with competence yet the essence grant to viable units for distribution dedication and diligence. of motivation emanating from the to personnel who have performed Memorandum Circulars on giving commendably in attaining financial Thus, it is not unusual for NIA field VIG must be consistently and timely viability. Since then, VIG payment office personnel doing rounds as given to deserving employees. has been effected to qualified early as 5:30 in the morning just to employees of viable regions. meet the farmers especially during Generating income from all sources peak collection time and requesting is a concerted effort from the In 2015, NIA Management has the support of local government management to the rank-and-file temporarily suspended the payment units (LGUs) and Irrigators Associations employees especially on the field of VIG for CY 2014 due to notices (IAs). Cost-cutting measures in the offices. Hence, the management of disallowance issued by Commission offices have been applied. These must be steadfast in fulfilling its On Audit (COA) unless with clearance are among the joint efforts of officials directives. Noteworthy is the from the Office of the President and employees towards attainment management’s action of elevating it (OP). of viability. Significant outcome is to the Office of the President thru the strong linkage and partnership GCG. Asserting for the restoration Among the sources of NIA’s revenue, of NIA with IAs and LGUs in ISF of VIG payment means that employees income from net Irrigation Service collection. are recognized and valued for the Fee (ISF) topped the list. Based on performance beyond expectation. Consolidated Income Statement, Thus suspension of giving the incentive This creates an atmosphere of Corporate Fund 501 – Regular & even temporarily, brought negative respect, builds up esteem and NDC, net ISF is in ascending trend – impact and demoralization among engenders higher productivity. 4 NIA CURRENTS | VOLUME 22, NO.4, 2015 PLANS AND PROGRAMS BBMP Coming NIA Administrator Visits into Two Major Projects in Caraga Jane B. Huqueriza, PRO, CARAGA Reality NIA Administrator Florencio F. Padernal The group then proceeded to Umayam Eliseo V. Bitangcol, PRO, Region 3 arrived at NIA-Caraga early morning of River Irrigation Project (URIP) in the July 30, 2015 surprising employees of municipality of Loreto, Province of Agusan the Regional Office.