Region 8 – Pursuant to Republic Act 10969, otherwise known as Free Irrigation Service Act (FISA), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) partially distributed Certificate of Irrigation Service Fee (ISF) Exemption to 37 farmers in Balire-Ibawon-Gibuga River Irrigation System (RIS), MacArthur, Leyte and Binahaan-Tibak RIS, Tanauan, Leyte on July 28, 2021 and August 25, 2021, respectively. Likewise, back accounts, penalties and other interests of these farmers amounting to P3.7-million were condoned and written off from the book of NIA.

The Acting Regional Manager, Ruby C. Tuan, Jr., conducted a site visit and inspection to the Jicontol Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in Dolores, Eastern Samar on April 22, 2021.

The Jicontol CIS was constructed in 1982 with a total service area of 1,500 hectares. Moreover, the municipality of Dolores is the rice granary of Eastern Samar. However, these are not yet fully irrigated.

Thus, the management will further study possible interventions for the system in the years to come, to attain the highest satisfaction of the farmers. Likewise, to increase the irrigation development in Eastern Samar.

The NIA RO8 Acting Regional Manager, Ruby C. Tuan, Jr., conducted site visit and inspection to various national irrigation systems (NIS) within the Biliran-Leyte del Norte-Leyte del Sur IMO on April 21, 2021.

This is an initial action of the management to plan and propose possible interventions adopting innovations and modernization for existing and fully operational NIS to improve irrigation services for the Filipino farmers.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), in partnership with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program-Irrigation Component (CARP-IC), completed and turnover the P10-million project in Jicontol Communal Irrigation System (CIS) to the Jicontol Irrigators Service Association (JISA), Inc. on April 22, 2021.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), in partnership with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), turnovers the Sta. Cruz Communal Irrigation Project (CIP) in Jaro, Leyte to the Taytay-Iphag-Gapas Irrigators Association (TIGIA), Inc., headed by Tito T. Liporada (IA President) on March 12, 2021.

The project was completed on December 2020, funded by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program-Irrigation Component (CARP-IC), amounting to P25.4-million.

This aims to provide reliable irrigation water to 116 hectares service area in barangay Sta. Cruz and Pange, which will benefit to 66 farmers and 20 agrarian reform beneficiaries.

In behalf of the NIA Management, spearheaded by Administrator Ricardo R Visaya, the Operation Department Manager Delsy J. Revellame; System Management Division (SMD) Manager Eusebio S. Villamanto; and SMD Area Engineer Louie V. Mendoza, conducted a site visit in Basey Irrigation Project (IP) on March 4, 2021.

The NIA RO 8 Acting Regional Manager Ruby C. Tuan Jr., together with the Operation Department Manager Engr. Delsy J. Revellame, attended the portfolio review meeting for FY 2020/2021 conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on March 3, 2021 via teleconferencing.

The meeting focused on the (1) priority agenda in the sector including updates on policies and programs; (2) implementation review of ongoing projects with critical issues; and (3) updates on the status of completed projects with pending/sustainability issues.

Also, other concerned NIA Officials attended the said activity.