LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – An Irrigators’ Association (IAs) of the region has recently joined the list of outstanding IAs in the country.
Taloy Sur Irrigators’ Association of Tuba, Benguet was conferred a Special Performance Award as Most Outstanding IA for the Year 2014 (national level) under the communal irrigation system (CIS) category for achieving exemplary performance in managing the operation and maintenance of its irrigation system.
Secretary Kiko Pangilinan of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization (OPAFSAM) awarded the plaque of recognition to the IA on June 24, 2015 during the 52nd National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Anniversary held at the NIA Central Office in Quezon City.
Taloy Sur IA maintains and operates the Taloy Sur Communal Irrigation System located in Brgy. Taloy Sur, Tuba, Benguet which was first constructed in 1988 and rehabilitated after that big earthquake in 1990. The irrigation system was custom-built, composed mainly of reservoir tanks and HDPE pipelines to serve the mountainous topography and distinctive crops of Benguet. It supplies irrigation to vegetables such as sayote and Baguio beans as well as some cutflowers such as rose and anthurium. Taloy Sur IA’s office which was established through the organization’s fund raising activities is located at the 2nd View Deck along Marcos Highway in Taloy Sur, Tuba.
“We tried our best to equip ourselves with the skills and knowledge in managing an organization by attending all capability building seminars and trainings conducted by NIA and other agencies,” said Mr. Brian Ducat, president of the Outstanding IA, whose late father was the first president of the IA when it was formed in 1988. Like Mr. Ducat, other officers and members of Taloy Sur IA were also children of the old members of Taloy Sur IA.
Ducat said that through the system management trainings, they were able to learn how to operate and maintain their irrigation system with minimal supervision from the NIA. According to the officers, minor damages to their irrigation facilities caused by storms are efficiently repaired by the members themselves. Water delivery schedules and other guidelines are also strictly implemented.
“The officers and members of the IA are young, active and effective,” said Engr. John Socalo, regional manager of NIA-CAR. “We always see applications of what they have learned in seminars conducted,” he added.
Ratings of the IA in functionality surveys reveal gradual improvement through the years. For their 2013 and 2014 performance, Taloy Sur IA impressed the Validation Team with their well-organized financial and organizational records as well as with their remarkable system operation and maintenance functions to declare them as Most Outstanding IA in the region under the CIS category for two consecutive years.
Socalo also hopes that the award both serve as challenge and inspiration to the Taloy Sur IA and other IAs in the region to do better in their performance in managing and operating their irrigation systems.
photo caption: Special Performance Awardee Taloy Sur Irrigators’ Association (IA) of Tuba, Benguet pose with Sec. Pangilinan of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization (OPAFSAM), NIA Administrator Florencio Padernal, NIA-CAR Manager John Socalo and other NIA officials during the awarding of Outstanding IAs in the NIA’s celebration of it 52nd Anniversary.
