CONNER, Apayao – Approximately 409 farmers from various irrigators’ associations in the municipalities of Luna, Sta. Marcela, Flora, Calanasan, and Conner attended an orientation on the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.
Held on June 13, 2024, at the Paddaoan Barangay Hall in Conner and June 14, 2024, at the EKB Clubhouse in Bagutong, Flora, said sessions were jointly conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
The irrigators’ associations (IA) that participated included Naganakan Maclit IA (Salvacion), Filomena IA, Isla ti Bukkol IA, Nueva-Kapupugan IA, Sitio Panawagan IA, Zumugui-Capapayaan FIA, Pag-asa Lappa FIA, Anninipan Payanan IA, Brgy. Allig FIA, Lateral A of Marimay IA, Sunrise ti Balluyan IA, Tulbek ti Rang-ay IA, Padina FIA, and Nabuangan River-Cupis Maglangac Pigoc IA.
The orientations were attended by officials from DOLE and the local government units. The DOLE had earlier allocated funds to the Cordillera office (CAR) of the NIA-CAR for the TUPAD program, following a memorandum of agreement signed by NIA-CAR Regional Manager Benito Espique, Jr., and DOLE-CAR Regional Director Nathaniel Lacambra.
This third tranche of TUPAD aims to support 2,356 members of irrigators’ associations in the region. These members will engage in canal clearing, grubbing, desilting, minor repairs, and other maintenance activities along national and communal irrigation systems for a designated number of days.
Meanwhile, in Calanasan, a pre-registration seminar for members of irrigators’ associations continued as the NIA Apayao Irrigation Management Office and Vice-Governor Remy Albano, who is also the president of the National Confederation of IAs, facilitated another activity on June 13, 2024, at the Sta. Filomena Barangay Hall.
With 17 attendees, the Cooperative Pre-registration Seminar was led by Mr. Sean Ray Otanez, the Cooperative Development Officer.
This seminar is a prerequisite for joining a cooperative. The Sta. Filomena IA aims to form and join cooperatives, aligning with the goal of NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen to enable farmers to become key players in the entire value chain from production to processing to marketing. This initiative provides farmers more opportunities to enter into contracts and agreements with government and private organizations. By JCM
