Signed on February 2, 2018, RA 10969 provides that “all farmers with landholdings of eight (8) hectares and below are hereby exempted from paying irrigation service fees (ISF) for water derived from national irrigation systems (NIS) and communal irrigation systems (CIS) that were, or are to be, funded, constructed, maintained and administered by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and other government agencies, including those that have been turned over to irrigators’ associations (IAs)”.

“Farmers with more than eight (8) hectares of land, corporate farms and plantations, drawing water for agricultural crop production; and fishponds and other persons, natural or juridical, drawing water for nonagricultural purposes from NIS and CIS, or using the irrigation systems as drainage facilities, shall continue to be subject to the payment of ISF,” the law further states.

As the newly-signed act also condones all unpaid ISF in the previous years and the corresponding penalties of farmers with eight hectares and below, about P239 million of back accounts accrued since the 1980s of farmers in irrigated areas served by the national systems under NIA-CAR will be condoned.

NIA-CAR maintains three NISs from which ISF were previously collected—Upper Chico River Irrigation System (UCRIS) with service areas in Tabuk and Pinukpuk, Kalinga and Mallig and Quezon, Isabela, West Apayao Abulug Irrigation System (WAAIS) with service areas in Pudtol and Luna, Apayao and Abulug and Pamplona, Cagayan and the Hapid Irrigation System in Ifugao.

This law, fully titled “An Act Providing Free Irrigation Service, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 3601, as Amended, Appropriating Funds Therefor and

Farmers in the Cordilleras will now enjoy free irrigation service now that President Rodrigo Duterte approved Republic Act 10969 or more commonly called ‘Free Irrigation Service Act’.

IRRIGATION FEE IS NOW FREE

for Other purposes”, now amends RA 3601, as amended by Presidential Decree 552 and 1702. Under RA 3601, the law that created NIA in 1963, the agency as a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) was mandated to collect ISF from farmers. Before the passage of the law, farmers pay three cavans of palay or P2,550 per hectare as ISF during the dry season and two cavans of palay or P1,700 per hectare during the wet season.

The passage of the law was part of the present government’s policy to promote comprehensive rural development and commitment to contribute to the lowering of the cost of food production. The amount necessary to the implementation of the act shall now be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of this new act which are currently formed will be promulgated anytime soon.

Free irrigation was one of the promises of Duterte during his presidential campaign in 2016. While the free irrigation law has just been signed this year, free irrigation service was implemented by NIA in 2017 as P2 billion was provided in the budget of the agency in the GAA of 2017 as subsidy in lieu of the ISF being collected from farmers being served by the NIS.//Mylene Malecdan

STEEL GATES. NIA-CAR Acting Regional Manager Benito T. Espique, Jr. inspects one of the canals of the Upper Chico River Irrigation System, the largest National Irrigation System (NIS) in CAR with

benefitted areas in Tabuk and Pinukpuk, Kalinga and Quezon and Mallig, Isabela.

Inside this issue

Irrigation fee is now free Page 1Farmers’ group trained on basic hydrology Page 2

‘Local produce is still the best choice’ - Car Agri Chief Page Page 3

CAR stakeholders pledge support to NIA Page 4lfonso Lista Pump Irrigation Project to irrigate more than 2000

hectares Page 6Sablan farmers urged to maintain

irrigation system Page 7

ebtebni cordilleraT

ni CordilleraebtebT2

Lamut , I fugao – Farmers of Hapid I r r igat ion System (Hapid IS ) were en l ightened on water management and bas ic hydro logy with bas ic demonstrat ion on gett ing water vo lume through a program lead by the Nat ional I r r igat ion Administ rat ion (NIA) Cord i l lera on March 1-2 , 2018.

Headed by Engr. F remer Wi l l iam, Hydro log ist o f NIA-CAR, the IA members of Hapid IS were or iented on bas ic water management for farming and cropping. Wi l l iam d iscussed the bas ics on how and why water use must be managed and ach ieved fo l lowed by actua l demonstrat ion on determin ing water measurements .

The or ientat ion on hydro logy a imed to equip farmers with bas ic knowledge on measur ing water d ischarge with in the i r IA respons ib i l i ty areas so that they are ab le to ca lcu late prospect ive i r r igable areas depending on water d ischarges .

The act iv i ty a l so gave the farmers he lp in the improvement of the i r own cropping ca lendar and patterns of p lant ing inc lud ing the reduct ion of farm losses with advance informat ion on the status of i r r igat ion

water with in the i r area and a lso reduce i r r igat ion re lated conf l i c ts .

As part of the t ra in ing and or ientat ion, the part i c ipants together with NIA Lamut employees were d i rected to Lawig IS in Lamut , I fugao for actua l demonstrat ion on water vo lume measurement and cont inuat ion of the d iscuss ion.

Upon arr iva l , i l l i c i t acts on water contro l were caught . Accord ing to Wi l l iam, the absence of contro l gates lead to i l lega l acts on water d ist r ibut ion and i r r igat ion. He sa id that i f these are present on each turn-out , together with proper water rotat ion d ist r ibut ion, water would not be wasted as accord ing to one member, water sp i l l s usua l ly occur spec ia l ly dur ing wet season.

“ I t i s the respons ib i l i ty of NIA to equip and prov ide the IAs on i r r igat ion needs whi le the farmers are respons ib le for i t s maintenance,” added Wi l l iam.

As Wi l l iam conc ludes the t ra in ing , he ment ioned a quote on accept ing fa i lures for success . He insp i red the farmers by te l l ing them that in order to succeed, one must accept fa i lures . And th is would soon resu l t to more members as part of the assoc iat ion.

The Hapid IS , one of the three nat ional i r r igat ion systems of CAR, has a tota l o f 2 ,483 hectares f i rmed

Farmers group trained on basic hydrology

Brian Ducat

Engr. Fremer William, NIA-CAR Hydrologist, demonstrates how to measure and calculate water volume and daily water discharge to irrigators as part of the training on basic hydrology and water management held in Lamut, Ifugao on March 1-2, 2018.

up ser v ice area. F rom i ts construct ion in the 1990s , there are now 11 i r r igators assoc iat ions with 1 ,794 farmer-members ./ / Jean Ananayo

Taloy IA president inspires MP irrigators

Irrigators of Mountain Province (MP) gathered as co-irrigator, president and leader of awarded most outstanding Irrigators’ Association (IA) nationwide inspired them on his speech during their first general assembly held at Ridgebrooke Hotel and Restaurant, Bontoc, Mountain Province on February 23, 2018.

Themed “Viable Montañosa Federation of Irrigators Association through shared Vision, Values and Responsibilities”, 60 farmers from different Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered IAs of the ten municipalities of MP called the Montañosa Federation of Irrigators Association (MOFIA) happily joined the assembly and enjoyed the gathering as Brian Ducat, President of Taloy Sur IA, the recently awarded as the Most Outstanding Irrigators’ Association nationwide shared ideas on how to build and develop a group with exceptional and viable IA to gain awards and recognitions in the future.

“Practice and update associations and support the source,” said Ducat in his speech being a model IA as he encouraged the MP farmers.

Ducat said in an interview that he was surprised that he was assigned to deliver a message in the MP

The official newsletter of National Irrigation Administration - CARJanuary - March 2018 Volume VIII • Issue 1 3

'Local produce is still the best choice' - CAR Agri Chief

target market for corn is Visayas and Mindanao which are corn-eating regions. Due to climate change, Visayas and Mindanao crops do not survive typhoons.

Meanwhile, Acting Regional Manager Benito Espique, Jr. of NIA guarantees the continued support of the government to farmers through the ‘build, build, build’ program of President Duterte. He told the irrigators’ associations that for 2018, the province of Benguet has a total allocation of 175 million for the construction of new irrigation systems as well as for the repair and rehabilitation of existing irrigation systems in the province.

Espique said that the Irrigators’ Associations (IA) are the prime partner of the NIA especially so because irrigation projects when completed are turned over to them for operation and maintenance. He urged all IAs in the province to strengthen their organizations and follow the example of the Taloy Sur Irrigators’ Association, a national awardee as Outstanding IA for three consecutive years.

Benguet has a total of 242 IAs with 9,968 farmer members.//Mylene Malecdan

DA-CAR Regional Director Narciso Edillo lauds more than 150 farmer-leaders for being productive members of the community during the Benguet Farmers’ Federation of Irrigators’

Associations (BFFIA) general assembly on February 14.

Engr. Benito Espique, Jr., Acting Regional Manager of NIA-CAR, shares that the province of Benguet has a total allocation of 175 million for the construction of new irrigation systems as

well as for the repair and rehabilitation of existing irrigation systems in the province.

assembly because it was his first.

The assembly aimed on strengthening the partnership between and among the NIA and the irrigators’ associations and for the participants to be knowledgeable on the NIA updates and other agencies’ requirements on advancing the associations’ role on project implementation.

Also, the assembly focused on the awareness of the status of the federation, the review and finalization of the federation’s policies and the preparation of the three-year term plan for the years 2018 to 2020.

Unlike most gatherings and meetings, the general assembly had Ducat to share his ideas and tips regarding the areas that made them the most outstanding in the year 2017. According to Kurleen Ticangen, IDO-Mountain Province, Ducat’s message would soon be shared by the presidents and representatives of the IAs to their members in order to create possible contenders for future recognition and awarding.

The MOFIA is a registered association since May 30, 2013 and up to now, there are 130 IA members from the 10 municipalities of MP.

Meanwhile, Ducat said that Taloy Sur IA is targeting an extension of its members and area in the year 2019 and he is encouraging his members to improve the group.//Jean Ananayo

Regional Executive Director Narciso Edillo of the Department of Agriculture Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) stressed this as he lauds more than 150 farmer leaders during the Benguet Farmers’ Federation of Irrigators’ Associations (BFFIA) 29th General Assembly at the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Cordillera Farmers Training Center on February 14.

Edillo said that we cannot be sure of how the various vegetables and products from other countries are grown, handled and packaged and how much preservatives are applied to them so we must buy those produce by our local farmers.

“Teachers feed the mind, farmers feed the body,” said Edillo emphasizing the importance of farmers to the growing population of Filipinos yet the age of majority of Filipino farmers ranges from 58 to 90. This is the reason why tuition fee of students taking agriculture course is free to encourage the young to venture into agriculture.

Edillo also spoke on the production of white corn for the year 2018. While people in Luzon do not consume corn much, the

La Trinidad, Benguet—Agricultural produce grown

locally is still the safest choice for consumers.

ni CordilleraebtebT4

In a bid to engage more stakeholders in the National Irrigation Administration projects, future plans and programs in the provinces of the Cordillera Administrative Region, NIA-CAR conducted Irrigation Stakeholders’ Fora in Ifugao, Apayao and Mountain Province respectively in January this year.

“The Stakeholders’ Forum is being conducted by NIA nationwide to increase efficiency of project implementation. This is part of the advocacy of the current NIA Administrator, Gen Ricardo Visaya (Ret), NIA Administrator relative to President Duterte’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program,” explained Engr. Benito T. Espique, Jr., Acting Regional Manager.

Among the stakeholders present were the congressional representatives, governors, mayors, leaders of the Irrigators’ Associations, representatives from the church and local media outlets. Representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) also gave security briefing and discussed peace and order situation respectively.

The stakeholders will be very helpful to NIA in resolving problems that delay project implementation such as right-of-way, peace and order, issues on indigenous people, and conflict among water users. They shall also provide

helpful recommendations and timely feedbacks in line with the comprehensive irrigation development program of the province.

Ifugao The Stakeholders’ Forum

in Ifugao was held on January 11, 2018 at the Ifugao State University Conference Hall, Nayun, Lamut, Ifugao.

NIA Ifugao Provincial Head Engr. Jone Dulnuan presented the status of irrigation development per municipality with the corresponding number of hectares irrigated versus the prospect areas for irrigation. He mentioned that Ifugao got the highest funding of projects within the region with about P396 million from which bulk of the fund is allotted to Alfonso Pump Irrigation Project (ALPIP) and diversion dam of Hapid Irrigation System.

ALPIP team leader, Randymar Cascolan presented the current state of the construction of ALPIP including the accomplishments

in the previous years and said that the supposed target date of completion will be on 2019 barring any hindrances.

Meanwhile, 1st Lt. Jomar Tinio, Armed of the Philippines (AFP) discussed on the state of internal security of the province wherein he identified the New People’s Army (NPA) infested municipalities that may affect the implementation of projects. He assured that the Philippine Army is ready and willing to assist in making sure that all projects will not be hampered.

Ifugao Provincial Governor Pedro Mayam-o spoke and asked Tinio and PNP to also check on the on-going construction of a multi-million project located in Asipulo, one of the identified area with the most number of NPAs which he took note and promised that they will look into the matter.

ApayaoThe Stakeholders’ Forum in

Apayao was held on January 18, 2018 at the Apayao State

CAR stakeholders pledge support to nia

Attendees of the NIA Stakeholders’ Forum for the province of Apayao pose for nosterity after the activity.

NIA Stakeholders’ Forum for Ifugao

Gov. Pedro Mayam-o

Rep. Eleanor Begtang

The official newsletter of National Irrigation Administration - CARJanuary - March 2018 Volume VIII • Issue 1 5

College Auditorium in San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao.

Engr. Leonardo Lamangen, who assumed office as Acting Division Manager of Apayao IMO on January 3, 2018, presented the status of carryover projects from the previous years as well as the 2018 approved projects with a total allocation of P350 million. This includes the budget for the construction of new irrigation systems, repair of existing national and communal irrigation systems, feasibility studies and detailed engineering of proposed projects, as well as the 2018 budget of the multi-year line project, Marimay Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP).

According to Engr. Jayson Doctolero, resident engineer of Marimay SRIP, the project will have an earth fill dam of 30 meters in height and 210 meters in length, which upon project completion will irrigate a service area of 1,200 hectares, benefitting about 600 farmers.

The activity’s open forum serve as an avenue for the stakeholders especially the farmers to air out several issues and concerns on irrigation and NIA projects to concerned officials.

While the support covenant signing did not materialize, Hon. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, representative of the Lone District of Apayao, and the other LGU officials present assured of their continuous all-out support to the NIA’s projects and programs. She further advised Apayao IMO officials to visit and closely coordinate with

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, Ob-ob, Bubon or Ub-bog in other parts of the Cordillera.

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editorial AdviserBENITO T. ESPIQUE, JR.

Editorial ConsultantsGRACE A. FANGED

BRADLEY G. GROSPE

EditorsMYLENE I. MALECDANRITA L. AFIDCHAO

HELEN T. LAOYAN

Lay-outJEAN B. ANANAYO

ContributorsJEAN B. ANANAYOROSEMARIE SACYATENNOIMIE BUDOY/BSU DevCom InternKIMBERLEY EDAY/BSU DevCom Intern

Tebteb ni Cordillera welcomes contributory articles, features and pictures.

the municipal mayors and other local officials on NIA projects.

Mountain ProvinceEngr. Winston Daoas,

MP Provincial Head led the orientation on NIA’s vision, mission and the scheme of development and activities. He explained that project implementation does not focus on the physical project itself but to the farmers organized into IAs whom will, in turn be the ones to manage and maintain the irrigation facilities.

Office of the Congressman Chief of Staff, Atty. Cyphrine Dalog delivered the message of Cong. Allen Mangaoang of Kalinga who is also the legislative caretaker of the Lone District of Mountain Province. The message informed of late Cong. Maximo Dalog’s commitment and persistence who had been proposing various irrigation projects since his first term as representative of the province in 2010. “The late congressman was very passionate in urging the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to cooperate, assist and support the projects of NIA”, Dalog said.

Dalog also said that the office of the congressman headed by the legislative caretaker, Cong. Allen Managaoang, commits to continue supporting the NIA projects because according to her, they are confident of NIA’s capability in irrigation development and management. “We are confident of NIA’s capacity as a professional and efficient irrigation agency contributing to the inclusive growth of the country and in the improvement of our farmers’

Mountain Province Stakeholders’ Forum

Atty. Cyphrine Dalog representing Congressman Mangaoang, legislative caretaker of MP

quality of life,” Dalog added.

Meanwhile, Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan said, “Construction of irrigation systems is an investment that could cost the government big amount of money but the return on investment would be high. I urge all of us to give our attention to irrigation”.

The forum ended with the support covenant signing of all stakeholders and their r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s . / / M y l e n e Malecdan with Rose Marie Sacyaten

ni CordilleraebtebT6Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation Project to irrigate

more than 2000 hectares

access road with a length of 1.96 km, construction of canal conveyor sump intake pump house and its appurtenant structures of 5.32 km, construction of transbasin tunnel and its appurtenant structure of 1.085 km, canalization works and canal structures of lateral (a) of 2.06 km, lateral (b) of 2.78 and (c) of (1.72km) and canalization and concreting works canal (b-extra) of 0.16 km as of 2012 to 2018.

According to Engr. Benito Espique, Jr., Acting Regional Manager of NIA-CAR, the ALPIP is targeted to be completed by 2019 so that the farmers can utilize the project.

At present, about 170 hectares of the targeted service area irrigated through rain or surface pumps is devoted to rice production, 840 ha is for corn production while more than 1,000 ha is idle agricultural land.

When completed, the irrigation project will increase production of paddy rice at an increment of 22, 749 tons annually which will be a big boost to the stability of domestic grain supply.// With Kimberly Eday and Noime Budoy/BSU Interns

Alfonso Lista, Ifugao—About 2, 126 hectares of agricultural lands of this town will soon have a year-round irrigation water supply after the completion of the Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation Project (ALPIP).

One of the multi-year major projects of NIA-CAR, the ALPIP aims to provide sustainable agricultural development by providing substantial and timely water supply for irrigation in agriculture lands in four barangays Santo Domingo, Namillangan, Calupaan, Namnama and part of Potia.

The project’s main components include the installation of five pump and construction of Pump house, Transbasin Tunnel, and canalization works.

The pump to be installed will draw irrigation water from the Magat Dam and water will be diverted to the service area through construction of canal conveyance and pump intake and irrigation canals at strategic areas. Alongside the canals are access roads for the operation and maintenance of the project upon completion.

At present, according to Randy Cascolan, ALPIP team leader, among the completed structures are 6.3 kilometers canalization and canal structures of main canal,

The official newsletter of National Irrigation Administration - CARJanuary - March 2018 Volume VIII • Issue 1 7

Sablan, Benguet— Local officials urged the two irrigators’ associations of Brgy. Bayabas to take care and maintain the Bayabas Communal Irrigation System (CIS).

This developed during the inauguration and turn-over ceremonies of the Bayabas CIS from the National Irrigation Administration-CAR (NIA-CAR) to the Bulala Irrigators’ Association (IA) and the Calamay IA at Bayabas, Sablan, Benguet on March 7, 2018 and February 27, 2018.

Sablan Vice Mayor Manuel Munar and Joseph Galaw-ey from the Office of the Governor expressed their appreciation to all the beneficiaries of the irrigation system for being active participants that lead to the successful completion of the project. They both urged the beneficiaries to continue their unity in the operation and maintenance of the irrigation system now that it is turned over to them.

Munar further urged the IAs to paint the reservoir tanks and inscribed the name of their association in them as gentle reminder of their success as

well as continued maintenance to sustain the efficiency of irrigation to their farms.

The project was funded by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) with a total of five million pesos and implemented by the NIA. It was divided into two sectors–Calamay Sector and Bulala Sector. The Bulala Sector with water source from the Ubbog Spring has four reservoir tanks and 4.32 kilometers of pipelines. This sector of the Bayabas CIS will be operated by the Bulala IA with 20 members covering 15 hectares.

The Calamay Sector of the irrigation system was earlier turned over on February 27 to the Calamay IA which has 34 beneficiaries with a total aggregate service area of 35 hectares. With water source from the Ambingel Creek, this sector has five reservoir tanks and 5.18 kilometers high density polyethylene pipelines.

According to Manuela Pagnas, one of the beneficiaries in the Calamay Sector, farmers in their area now have more efficient irrigation as they cultivate their rice farms for two

croppings a year. Others can even plant high value crops such as cucumber as third crop.

Engr. Benito Espique, Jr., Acting Regional Manager of NIA-CAR, congratulated the farmer irrigators for being active participants during the construction of the irrigation system as even the female beneficiaries participated in the hauling of aggregates and other construction materials. He urged the association to continue with their cooperation as they operate their irrigation system.

According to Maria Theresa Manuel, Irrigators Development Officer of NIA, the irrigation facilities of the Bayabas CIS were first constructed by the NIA and the farmers in the mid-1980s and 1990s. Repair of the system included replacement of the corroded GI pipes into high density polyethylene pipes and construction of additional reservoir tanks.

Calamay IA is headed by Benjamin Lorena while Bulala IA is headed by Ricardo Ciano. Both IAs will now operate and maintain the irrigation system.//Engr. Godofredo Velaque with Noimie Budoy & Kimberley Edan/BSU Interns

NIA-CAR Regional Manager Benito Espique, Jr. leads the ribbon cutting during the turn over ceremony of the Bulala Sector of

Bayabas Communal Irrigation System (CIS). Bulala Sector has 4 resesrvoir tanks for 15 hectares service area.

Calamay IA President Benjamin Lorena accepts the responsibil-ity of the operation and maintenance of Bayabas CIS-Calamay

Sector. From the water source in Ambingel Creek, Calamay has 5 tanks that will supply 35 hectares.

Sablan farmers urged to maintain irrigation system

ni Cordilleraebteb 8T

Turn-over of key of responsibility to Engr. Patrick Resurreccion who is now Acting Division Manager of Kalinga IMO.

Engr. Manuel Bustonera turns over the key of responsibility to Engr. Leonardo Lamangen who is now the Acting Division Manager of Apayao IMO.

Engr. Bustonera now leads Abra Satellite Office.

NIA-CAR joins the NIA Nationwide spinning of spinwheels to welcome 2018 with the theme “Transforming challenges into infinite opportunities”. A spinwheel is seen as instrument to turn obstacles into opportunities

as it symbolizes infinity, fragility and strength.

Inauguration and turn-over of Bayabas CIS to Calamay IA and Bulala IA (Story on page 6)

Photos during the stakeholders’ forum

Tebteb photos

Winners of raffle draw during the BFFIA assembly