January 4, 2017, Iloilo City - Newly appointed Administrator of National Irrigation Administration, Peter Tiu Laviña conducted his first field visit for 2017 in Region 6.
Administrator Laviña together with Region 6 Regional Manager, Engineer Gerardo P. Corsiga and Iloilo Guimaras Irrigation Management Office Manager, Engineer Florencio P. Colorado went to see the actual structures of the Santa Barbara River Irrigation System dam located at Brgy. Tungay, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo. The said dam is the oldest in Western Visayas, which was built on December 1, 1922.
He then proceeded to Barotac Viejo Small River Irrigation Project (BVSRIP) located at Brgy. Nueva Invencion, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo which is currently being jointly constructed by Oscar R. Sarmiento Construction, Inc. and Newington Builders, Inc. The project which is a 27.65 meters tall dam with crest length of 373.37 meters and crest width of 9.00 meters has a total catchment size of 50.40 square kilometers. It has a reservoir capacity of 11.084 mcm and inflow design of 874.60 cms which targets to irrigate 2,050 hectares.
A dialogue with the Administrator at EON Centennial Resort Hotel, Alta Tierra Village, Jaro, Iloilo City was conducted in the afternoon of the same day. It was attended by Iloilo Provincial Governor, Arthur D. Defensor, Sr., members of the Local Government Units, heads of other government agencies, NIA employees, representatives of Federation of Irrigators’ Association, farmers from old and new Irrigators’ Associations, Indigenous Peoples of Calinog, members of Hugpong Federal Movement, and members of the press.
In his message, Administrator Laviña discussed his four (4) point agenda namely: 1. Implementation of Free Irrigation Service Fee; 2. Construction of more irrigation projects; 3. Harness water resources for hydropower; and 4. Institutional review of NIA’s mandates, programs and activities in preparation for the federal form of government.
Also, he gave his full support to the implementation of two big projects which are the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) and Panay River Basin Integrated Development Project (PRBIDP). Further, he cheered the NIA employees by assuring them that all the benefits such as CNA, PBB, VIG, and SSL4, which are due to them will be granted upon receipt of its legal basis.
“Let’s help each other and find solutions to all our constraints and be partners for change.” he stressed.
