Farmer-irrigators of Abra cultivate their farmlands three crop-pings a year, thanks to good irrigation systems. This was disclosed by the Abrenian irrigators themselves in a forum with Administrator An-tonio Nangel of the Na-tional Irrigation System held in Bangued, Abra on March 26. Danilo Anchos, mem-ber of Bagatoy Irriga-tors’ Association in La Paz, claimed that the lined irrigation canals of

their system allowed the continuous flow of irriga-

tion water to their farmlands. “Ito po ay magandang halimbawa para sa ibang mga magsasaka,” Nangel told the farmers as he plans to bring farmers from parts of Visayas and Mindanao to Abra so they can learn from the success of Abrenian farmers. To further increase production in aid to the rice self-sufficiency of the country, Administrator Nangel directed NIA-CAR management to conduct a provincial coordination meeting with Land Bank, NFA, PhilRice, and other DA-attached agencies to devise strategies on how to best service the farm-ers. He underscored the right ‘timing’ in the deliv-ery of agricultural support services to farmers. Meanwhile, DA Secretary Proceso Alcala in an agri-pinoy stakeholders’ forum held on March 27 at the Abra Provincial Capitol assured farmers of the government’s continued support to farmers. He awarded and raffled off agricultural support, farm equipment, and livestock to various farmer groups and individuals.

NIA Administrator visits Abra

NIA, IAs to conduct synchronized tree planting in June

Recognizing the importance of watersheds in irrigation and climate change mitigation, the National Irrigation Administration together with its partner Ir-rigators’ Associations will be conducting simultaneous tree planting activities nationwide during the Irrigation Week in June. To this effect, a memorandum was recently signed by NIA Administrator Antonio Nangel and was forwarded to all NIA regional offices nationwide and irrigation management offices regionwide. The memorandum further directs the estab-lishment of plant nurseries for the propagation of tree seedlings which, if not mature enough for planting this June, shall be ready for the Golden (50th) Year of NIA in June 2013. This feat, however, is not new to NIAns in

Abra farmers proud of three-cropping practice

Turn to page 2 ...Turn to page 3 ...

Abrenian irrigators pose for posterity with NIA Administrator Antonio Nangel. Flanking the Administrator are NIA-Abra Provincial Coordinator Ronald Bisquerra, CAR Manager John Socalo and Abra Irrigators’ Association Federation President Bartolome Escalante. The Administrator had an audience with the farmers to gather their concerns and issues on irrigation and farming.

Tebteb ni Cordillera

Abra farmers.... from page 1

2

During the forum, Administrator Nangel an-nounced that for 2012 the Department of Agriculture through the NIA is implementing 39 irrigation projects in Abra worth P102.9 million programmed to rehabili-tate/restore an area of more than 2,000 hectares and generate new irrigable area of about 500 hectares in aid to the rice self-sufficiency agenda of the govern-ment. Abra is 197% self-sufficient in rice produc-ing 61,253 metric tons of palay in a year with about 30,000 metric tons being brought to other parts of the region. In an Irrigators’ Forum in La Paz, Abra, Engr. John Socalo, Manager of NIA-CAR, informed that the province of Abra recorded 63% in irrigation development, the highest in the region, with 16,222 hectares developed area serviced by various com-munal irrigation systems constructed by NIA, other government agencies and private entities. Aside from rice, Abra also produces tobacco, corn and vegetables. This year, the NIA Administrator committed that the DA-NIA will include in funding for 2013 the construction/repair of more irrigation systems in the province as requested by the farmer-irrigators after proper validation.

Pamigat diay Kataltalunan. More than 500 farmers, most are members of Irrigators’ Associations and other farmer-groups, were present to have a dialogue with DA Secretary Procy Alcala during the Consultation and Forum on Irrigation on March 27 held in Brgy. Isit, La Paz, Abra. (Right) As always, Sec. Alcala enjoys rubbing shoulders with the nation’s food producers.

La Trinidad, Benguet – Benguet farmers should help protect the communal forests of the province to stop the further decline of water resourc-es in the region. This was stressed by Governor Nestor Fongwan in his message to more than 100 farmer-irrigators’ during the Benguet Farmers Federation of Irrigators’ Associations (BFFIA) Annual Congress and General Assembly which was held at the Na-tional Irrigation Administration training center on February 16-17. Fongwan said that Benguet has 76 commu-nal forests which the farmers, as one of the prime water users, should sustain and develop. According to him, these forests give life to our rivers which in turn gives life to livelihood of the people of Benguet, sustains vegetable industry and provides income-generating activity such as hydropower. Meanwhile, NIA-CAR Manager John Socalo cautioned against further conversion of watershed areas into vegetable gardens. “As we aim to be self-sufficient in rice and other food staples, we cannot afford to create anoth-er problem by destroying our watersheds; we should be eyeing on the agricultural lands for expansion of farm areas,” Socalo said. He encouraged the irriga-tors’ associations (IAs) to plant trees along the water sources of their irrigation systems for sustainability. The IAs were also urged to strengthen their organizations and coordinate closely with the NIA in the validation and implementation of irrigation proj-ects to facilitate the attainment of targeted areas to be restored and generated. Other speakers of the BFFFIA activity were Mr. Silvestre Bonto, President of the National Con-federation of IA and representatives from the Nation-al Food Authority, Department of Agriculture-RFU, and other successful agricultural organizations.

Irrigator groups urged to protect forests

news

Benguet Governor Nestor fongwan appeals to IAs to save the communal forests of the province.

CAR is the top performing region in the imple-mentation of irrigation component projects under the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase III (ARISP-III). This was observed by Engr. Ma. Cristina Dagdag, overall Technical Coordinator for Irriga-tion of the DAR Central Project Management Office (DAR-CPMO), as she congratulated NIA-CAR and DAR-CAR for fast tracking project implementation during the assessment conference of ARISP-III Irri-gation Component in CAR held on January 18, 2012 at NIA Training Hall, Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet. Prior to the assessment conference, offi-cials from NIA-CARP-IC and DAR CPMO together with NIA-CAR and DAR-CAR personnel conducted inspection and construction meetings with the Ir-rigators’ Associations (IAs), LGU officials and other stakeholders at the sites of the ongoing projects in the Cordillera. Engr. Ronilio Cervantes, NIA-CAR ARISP-III Coordinator, reported that CAR has one ARISP project, the Daguioman CIS, which was completed late last year. As of March this year, nine are already on-going. These are the Anao CIS, Umalbong CIS and Haliap-Panubtuban CIS in Ifugao, Sadanga Up-land CIP and Monamon Norte CIS in Mt. Province, Amgam CIS in Benguet, Sta. Maria-Allig CIP (Lagac Area) in Apayao, and Bunog Matoc CIP and Balinci-agao CIP in Kalinga. ARISP-III is a project funded by the govern-ment of Japan through Japan International Coop-eration Agency (JICA) under a loan agreement with counterpart financing from DAR, local government units and the beneficiaries. It aims to provide ba-sic support services to help in the development of ARCs.

news Jan-March 2012

CAR. With the Cordilleras tagged as the “Watershed Cradle of the North” as the rivers flowing to agricul-tural lands in the CAR, Regions I and II trace their headwaters in the Cordilleras, the restoration of wa-tersheds and various communal forests in the region has been one of the rallying calls of NIA-CAR. In 2004, the then-regional manager Abraham Akilit initiated the active participation of NIA and the IAs in propagation of tree seedlings and massive tree planting activities. He advocated participatory approach to irrigation development encouraging IA members to conduct tree planting activities during the rainy season near the water source of their irriga-tion system. Since then, NIA-CAR has been actively conducting and participating to what they now call as the national greening program.

Growing needles. Sown in October last year by the NIA-CAR staff themselves, these pine tree saplings are gowing just fine in time for the tree planting activities in June in celebration of NIA week.

3

DAR CPMO lauds CAR as top implementer of ARISP-3 irrigation projects

DAR and NIA officials line up with Bakun LGU officials and Irrigators’ Associations who are part of the Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) during the groundbreaking ceremony of Amgam CIS, an ARISP-III irrigation project in Bakun, Benguet. After the groundbreaking ceremony, an implementation meeting was held with all the project stakeholders to level off expectations.

New Rehab Total 1. Daguioman CIS (Ableg Tui CIS) Daguioman, Abra Daguioman 14.56 306 0 89 89 1002. Anao CIS Hingyon, Ifugao Hingyon 5.16 40 0 45 45 2.973. Umalbong CIS Hingyon, Ifugao Hingyon 5.6 90 0 30 30 12.194. Sadanga Upland CIP Sadanga, Mt. Province Sadanga 26.63 200 0 202 202 1.55. Monamon Norte CIS Bauko, Mt. Province Bauko 25.5 210 0 155 155 7.836. Amgam CIS Bakun, Benguet Ampusungan-Gambang 8.13 147 0 71 71 23.567. Sta. Maria-Allig CIS (Lagac area) Flora, Apayao Flora 6.09 40 0 65 65 0.158. Bunog Matoc CIP T inglayan, Kalinga T inglayan 30.16 200 143 0 143 3.839. Haliap-Panubtuban CIS Asipulo, Ifugao Asipulo 4.75 150 0 63 6310. Balinciagao CIP Pasil, Kalinga Pasil 13.6 70 85 0 85

Physical Accomp.

CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONAGRARIAN REFORM INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT PROJECT III

Status of Implementation as of March 2012

Name of Sub-project Municipalities Served Name of ARC Project Cost (in million pesos)

Target ARBs

Area

NIA, IAs to conduct.... from page 1

Abra IAs: setting a good example

Ammum kadin, Abirat? Ay ket no saan pay basaem man daytoy innak ibingay iti daytoy nga bilang ti Tebteb ni Cordillera. Maipanggep man daytoy abirat iti innak nabasa iti nalatak nga pagiwarnak dagiti Ilokano (Bannawag) kas insalaysay ni Manong Jim Domingo. Maipanggep daytoy abirat iti mula a kardis. Ammum kadi nga ti kardis ket mysa kadagiti nateng nga nabaknang iti protina? Addaan iti 17-28 porsiyento ti protina dagiti bukel na, ken nasayaat pay a pamastrekan. Natured iti tikag ta nauneg dagiti ramut na.

Ad-adu ti imet a protina ti naata ngem dagiti natangkenan a bukel ti kardis. Nal-aklaka pay a marunaw iti tiyan ti

naata a bukel. Kastoy man ti panagmula ti kardis abirat. Maiyasad wenno maimula dagiti bukel ti kardis iti mysa ket kagudua a

FEATURETebteb ni Cordillera 4

Manong Juanito Alvarez was gathering all his courage to speak up in front. He slowly

stood up, took the microphone and asked in a soft timid voice, “Mabalin ti agsao ti Ilocano?” (Can I speak in Ilocano?). He did, and said “Kayat ko agpasalamat iti nap-intas nga canal ijy irigasyon mi ta su gapu nga napin-tas ti panag-ayos ti danum ijy talun mi..” (I would like express my gratitude for the good canals in our system which facilitates the flow of continuous irrigation water to our farmlands) Manong Juanito is the presi-dent of the Brgy. Calao Communal Irrigation System in Bucay, Abra. A smile slowly curved over Administrator Antonio Nangel’s face upon hearing the translated version of Manong Juanito’s speech. That smile became wider as Mang Danilo Anchos of La Paz, Abra proudly shared, “Maganda na po ang aming mga canal sa Bagatoy Communal Irriga-tion System dahil sementado na po kasi doon sa amin tatlong beses kung magtanim sa isang taon.” Another farmer suddenly stood and exclaimed, “Pati din po doon sa amin, tatlong beses din.” Other farmers in the audience nodded in unison. The Administrator was utterly pleased. He said, “Yan ay magandang halimbawa! Yan po ang kailangan natin sa pagtupad sa rice self-sufficiency agenda ng ating pamahalaan.” Manong Juanito and Manong Danilo were just two of the Abrenian farmers who attended the Irriga-

tors’ Associations Forum with the NIA Administrator who encouraged them to openly express their con-cerns. The forum was held at NIA satellite office in Bangued, Abra on March 26, 2012. It was not uncommon for farmers of Abra es-pecially in La Paz to cultivate their lands three times a year. Manong Danilo said that as long as there is ample water and good irrigation facilities, Abrenian farmers are very hardworking and can plant rice all year round; if the water is not as sufficient or time does not permit rice as third crop, they would plant mongo, corn or vegetables which can be grown for short periods in between the wet and dry cropping seasons. The following days, Manong Juanito and Manong Danilo were with other Abra farmers who got a thumbs up from DA Secretary who told them to take pride in their work.

Gratitude is the language of the heart. The Administrator is fascinated at Manong Juanito who expressed his thanks to NIA in Ilocano.

kadapan ti kaadayo ti tunggal puon, tallo wenno agingga uppat met a kadapan ti kaadayo dagiti linia. Saan met unay a kasapulan ti mula a kardis ti pannaripato abirat. Kadaw-yan nga saan nga agaramat ti abono wenno bassit laeng ti mayab abono kadagiti mula a kardis ngm nu kasapulan ti abono ipaamiris ti daga a pagmulaan wenno agbasar iti rekomendasyon ti teknisian ti agrikultura. No sidaen ti naganus a bukel ti kardis abirat mapuros dagita bunga sakbay nga matangkenan wenno 25-30 nga aldaw kalpasan ti panagsabong na. Ammum kadi met abirat nga makaapit iti agarup uppat tonelada a naata a bunga iti kada ektarya kasta met nga agarup 650 nga kilo a natangkenan a bukel iti mysa nga ektarya. Maar aramat pay abirat ti naata a bukel ti kardis a kas substitute ti gisantes. Naimas pay a mailaok dagiti dadduma a nateng a kas iti patatas, carrot, cauliflower ken repolyo.

Ammum kadin, Abirat?ni Abirat Arnold ti Quezon

THE BATTLESHIP AND THE LIGHTHOUSE

The Official Newsletter of the NIACordillera Administrative Region

Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet

Editorial AdviserJOHN L. SOCALO

Tebteb ni Cordillera are Ibaloi words meaning

Spring of the Cordillera. With the region dubbed as the

“Watershed Cradle of Northern Philippines”,

this paper hopes to see the headwaters of rivers in the

North eternally and lavishly flow.

Tebteb is also called Eb-eb, Obob, Bubon or Ub-bog in

other parts of the Cordillera.

EDITORIAL STAFF

Tebteb ni Cordillera welcomes contributory articles, feaures and pictures.

Contributors for this issueMITHUS GALAOPURIFICACION CUARESMAMYRA CASTILLOARNOLD ASCUETA

Associate EditorsRITA L. AFIDCHAOHELEN T. LAOYAN

Editorial ConsultantsGRACE A. FANGEDBENITO T. ESPIQUE, JR.

Editor-in-Chief/Lay-outMYLENE I. MALECDAN

from the RIM’s table

JOHN L. SOCALO Regional Manager

OPINION Jan-March 20125

Patience is certainly a virtue, and I greatly admire and envy people who have much of it. Managing my temper is a struggle I take every day. It took me a very long time to realize that there are things that no amount of impatience could change. Thanks to an experience told by Frank Koch in Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute, and shared by Steven Covey in one of his books. The story was told as follows: Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities. Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, “Light, bear-ing on the starboard bow.” “Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out. Lookout re-plied, “Steady, Captain,” which meant we were on a collision course with that ship. The captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship: We are on a collision course, ad-vise you change course 20 degrees.” Back came a signal, “Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees.” The captain said, “Send, I’m a cap-tain, change course 20 degrees.” “I’m a seaman second class,” came the reply. “You had better change course 20 degrees.” By that time, the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send, I’m a battleship. Change course 20 degrees. Back came the flashing light, “I’m a lighthouse.” We changed course. Sometimes, we are like the ship captain. We are unwavering in our hope for something that is really impossible to happen. Some things are not like a ship to be maneuvered but a lighthouse that is fixed. Attitudes, principles and beliefs are things we cannot do much about. An irrespon-sible working attitude of an employee cannot be changed overnight just because of comments and instructions by a supervisor. The person himself must work on his working attitude. No amount of persuasion can change a person’s conviction if he has his own set of beliefs. As someone once has said, a person convinced against his will is a per-son of the same opinion still. So next time that we like to take somebody to our side, we should think first if he is a ship or a lighthouse.

by Helen Laoyan

Investing on IrrigationThis year’s fund allocation for irrigation projects in the Cordillera is the highest so far in NIA-CAR’s

history. We are at present implementing more than 400 projects

regionwide worth more than P1.2 billion.

Through these irrigation infrastructures, the government through the DA and NIA is

being brought closer to the Cordilleran farmers, who are having new and/or repaired irrigation systems.

By investing in agricultural infrastructures, production is expected to

increase in aid to the so-called self-sufficiency program aiming to provide food for every

Pinoy’s table without the need to import rice.

While the government hands are kept full in speeding up project implementation, farmer-

beneficiaries can already maximize the use of these new/repaired irrigation facilities to help in bridging the gap between service area and irrigated area. At the same time, farmers can also devise strategies in caring and maintaining these facilities so that

they last long and can be used for long.

But these facilities may lose their impact if irrigation water is lacking. As such, we enjoin the Irrigators’ Associations to join us as we conduct synchronized tree planting activities nationwide

during the Irrigation Week in June.

The Eagle has Changed Gears

the most sought after speaker with regards to organic farming and herbal products not just in Mt. Province but even outside the region. He is extremely busy with his speaking engagements during farmers’ forum and trainers’ trainings on organic farming. From the looks of it, he is enjoying every bit of his life free from the pressures of government bureaucracy. (Congratulations Sir! You never say die. I hope the wisdom you imparted to us will be nurtured more and put to good use). “GO ORGANIC” HAS BEEN THE BUZZ FOR QUITE SOME TIME BUT INSTEAD OF JUST RIDING ON, ENG’R. ABRAHAM AKILIT HAS SET HIS OWN PARA-DIGM ON ORGANIC AGRICULTURE.

Tebteb ni Cordillera OPINION/FEATURE 6

A good thought to ponder! “You should not consider your job as burden but instead consider it as an opportunity of serving others for our common good.” -- Quoted from the speech of NIAn

retiree Avelino Petang of KIMP-IMO who served the agency for 35 years during the pasalamat at pama-maalam in January 9.

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE was all that was written in a tarpaulin proudly beaming above a booth. The first thing that comes to mind when I see the word organic is Engr. Abraham Akilit. True enough, a familiar figure was busy giving information to some clients. The booth was filled with organic vegetables and some of his farming discover-ies. With his back turned to us, we gamely nudged him and upon seeing us, he flashed his very warm smile. Nowhere do you find the stern looking face of the man who preferred not to be given a “Good Morning Sir” greeting if you know you’re not up to his standards or you fell short of his desired outputs. His mellowed facial twist is a full contrast to the Eng’r. Akilit of old. I could just shake my head replaying in my mind the laborious work environment that he had acculturated in us. But I can’t be more thankful and grateful to this man. I’m not perfect but I’m trained to spice com-mon sense in everything that I do though falling short sometimes. We hated his style then but he insisted on it just to bring out the best in us. To him, everything is doable. He pushed people to resort to even the most unconventional means just to get to the end. Nobody was exempted. As they say, there is an end to everything. Bril-liance doesn’t always guarantee sound decisions in all endeavors. His decision to shift career was the most trying move that he gambled at. But whatever hap-pened after his failed political bid, he was still gutsy to say that at least he tried and it’s not yet the end of the world. This time, looking at the man, now thinner but more physically fit with white hairs crowning his head, I could only shake my head awed of the 360 degrees turn around that happened to my once upon a time a bit Stalinist boss (twas for the office’s end anyway). He proved to everybody that common sense is the best armory to survive. Instead of being bitter, he tried to find himself again and he capitalized in his pas-sion to go ORGANIC. This brain-child was hatched during his last years with the National Irrigation Administration. I’m not privy as to how he got into the venture (ask Tulips) but brainy that he is, he found a niche in his new found love. . To add to his famous pulverized turmeric and his strong kicking hot chili, he’s got some other herbal products in capsule form. He personally attends to the A to Z of his venture with only a couple of helpers who said he is nowhere. In fact, he is everywhere and is now one of

No. ABSOROF PTIVE JOB

PROJ PHY FIN CAP. GENSUMMARY PER FUND:a. REGULAR:1 SIP 77 203,342.00 0 0 0 0 4 5 100 0 1142 RREIS 117 137,945.00 0 0 0 0 5 5 100 0 903 CIS EXTN PROJ 58 85,239.00 0 0 0 0 8 9 100 0 954 REGPIP 32 12,520.00 35 0 0 35 17 17 100 85 29

Sub-total 284 439,046.00 35 0 0 35 5 6 100 85 328b. OTHER FUNDS:1 CALAMITY(40.5M) 22 40,500.00 0 0 0 0 3 4 100 0 152 CALAMITY(228.5M) 96 228,500.00 0 6 0 6 7 7 100 17 1953 ARISP III 7 108,798.26 0 0 0 0 4 4 100 0 52

Sub-total 125 377,798.26 0 6 0 6 6 6 100 17 262409 816,844.26 35 6 0 41 6 6 100 102 590

CY 2012 PROJECTSAs of March 18, 2012

NAMETOTAL

ALLOCATION (P'000)

ACTUAL ACCOMPLISHMENT TO DATE

ACCOMP.AREA, HA.

NEW REST'D

OF STATUS OFFB

TOTALREHABPROJECT

TOTAL FOR CAR

by Rita Afidchao

Project Implementation Monitor

Go Organic. Engr. Abraham Akilit joins women folks in the organic farming booth where they display and sell their organic produce during the Lang-ay Festival in Mt. Province. According to the women, he is their leader in organic agriculture.

NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Lorna Grace Rosario visited the Irriga-tion Management Offices (IMOs) of NIA-CAR on the very first month of the year. It was raining when the Deputy Administrator arrived at Apayao IMO on January 11 but her arrival changed it all. The atmosphere became filled with excitement as it was, for most of the Apayao IMO employees, their first time to see the lady chief, who is their ‘kababayan’ hailing from Luna, Apayao, in person. Engr. Domingo Onza, manager of the IMO together with Engr. Benito Espique Jr., division man-ager for Engineering and Operations of NIA-CAR took the chance to query on the status of irrigation projects in Apayao. They also requested for the improvement of building facilities which the Deputy Administrator agreed to and instructed the prepara-tion of the program of work. After Apayao IMO, the Deputy Administrator Rosario visited the Kalinga-Ifugao-Mt. Province IMO head office in Kalinga and conducted orientation and meeting with the NIAns in the IMO. She discussed the financial and administrative aspects of the sector she handles. She also instructed Engr. Raymundo Apil to prepare POW for the repair of timeworn office facilities and the construction of farmers’ training center. The Deputy Administrator urged every NIAn to work hand in hand and train the farmers well to help them become functional and self-reliant as they are the agency’s partners in achieving the goal of rice self-sufficiency. by Myra Castillo and Purifica-cion Cuaresma

NIA’s lady chief visits NIA-CAR IMOs

New IDOs preparedfor deployment

To harness knowledge and competency on par-ticipatory approach to irrigation project implementation, newly hired Institutional Development Officers (IDOs) of the different Irrigation Management Offices (IMOs) of NIA-CAR underwent a weeklong training held at the NIA Regional Training Center in Wangal, La Trinidad, Ben-guet on February 13-17, 2012. The activity, called Pre-Deployment Training, is especially designed for IDOs before they are deployed to their work stations. It caters to promote the understanding, preparing and accomplishing legal documents needed in the implementation of irrigation projects as well as orga-nizing and strengthening the Irrigators’ Associations (IAs) who are the main partners of NIA. According to Evaristo Aquino, NIA-CAR ID sec-tion chief, the IAs must be organized, strengthened and mobilized to actively participate in the implementation of projects considering the big number of these projects which are of various distances from one another. Leo Gallego, Section Chief, IA Organization and Training, IDD, NIA-Central Office together with Martin Tacloban, NIA-CAR Area Monitor lectured on Institu-tional Development Program, Irrigation Development Process, Community Organizing, and other topics on strengthening/mobilizing the IAs and facilitated several workshop activities to maximize the active participation of the new IDOs. Meanwhile, Engr. Noly Sabado, Operation and Maintenance head, discussed national and communal irrigation systems and oriented the participants on the importance of project implementation to the Rice Self-Sufficiency Program of the government. The participants also presented work plans cri-tiqued by Regional Manager John Socalo. During the activity, 23 new IDOs joined by some seasoned IDOs were made to understand the working principle of an IDO, “to work with and not for the farmers and their leaders”. by Mithus Galao

New and seasoned IDOs sing and act their own composition during their training. They believe that an IDO is also a motivator who encourages the farmers to act or move as well as develop their skills and hidden potentials.

Excitement is evident on every Apayao IMO and NIA-CAR personnel when they gathered around Deputy Administrator Lorna Grace Rosario during her visit to the Apayao IMO sub-office on January 11.

Jan-March 20127 news

The above confession of NIA Administrator Antonio Nangel three days before the day of love in Tabuk, Kalinga during the province’s Ullalim Festival was still vividly remembered by Mr. Michael Lumas-i, a farmer and an IA leader of the province, as he recalled the talk almost a month after the Administra-tor’s visit. NIA-CAR Manager John Socalo, who in-troduced the Administrator to the officialdom and people of Kalinga, calls him a hands-on manager who has great concern and passion for the farmers. During his stint in Upper Pampanga River Irrigation System (UPRIIS), the country’s NIS with the largest area coverage, Administrator Nangel who was then the operations manager authored many innovations in farming and advocated the transfer of farming technologies—all for the goal of uplifting the eco-nomic life of the farmers. And it did happen. According to Mr. Lumas-i, some of the experiences in UPRIIS the Administrator shared include the farmers getting higher yield and income when they used high-yielding and pest-resistant rice varieties. They also employed ratooning in between the dry and wet seasons to increase their income without spending much on farm implements and practiced the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), a water savings technology. He encouraged the farmers of the Kalinga to also adopt these farming technologies. The Administrator’s devotion to the farmers may have also been the very reason why he could not say no to the Province of Kalinga’s invitation to be a keynote speaker on February 11, 2012 during its People’s Day of the Ullalim Festival, an annual celebration of the Kalinga’s founding anniversary. He took the opportunity to talk to the farmers, who

NIA Administrator graces Kalinga’s Ullalim Festival,

Mahal na mahal ko po ang mga magsasaka-ASN

comprise the majority of the population of Kalinga, the Rice Bowl of the Cordilleras. Administrator Nangel then appealed for the continuous cooperation of farmers and NIA person-nel in the implementation of irrigation projects and programs of the agency as it helps the Department of Agriculture attain the country’s agenda to be self-sufficient in rice and other food staples by 2013. During the activity, Administrator Nangel also assisted Kalinga’s Congressman, Governor and DA officials in the awarding of various livelihood projects farm households as he mentioned that farmers also have to engage in other enterprises aside from farm-ing to earn additional income. This love that the Administrator nurtured for the farmers is traced back to his family. “Mahal na mahal ko ang mga magsasaka sapagkat ako din po ay anak ng magsasaka,” he proudly proclaimed. (With reports from Purificacion Cuaresma of Kalinga-Ifugao-Mt. Province-IMO)

Love begets love. The NIA Administrator is surrounded by people whom he loves and who love him back. NIA-CAR Manager John Socalo, KIMP-IMO Manager Raymundo Apil and his staff together with the IAs of Kalinga are happy and proud to have the Administrator as guest of the province’s annual festival.

The Administrator receives his token from Kalinga Governor Jocel Ba-ac (right) and Congressman Manuel Agyao after his inspirational message during the province’s People’s Day of the province’s Ullalim Festival on February 11.

NEWS FEATURETebteb ni Cordillera 8