San D Mil is one of the 22 Irrigators Associations (IA) organized in the area of Malinao, a part of the Bohol Integrated Irrigation System (BIIS). To date, San D Mil IA has a total service area of 126.40 hectares with an impressive yield of 139.5 cavans per hectare. The IA has a total of 117 registered members with 9 TSAGs headed by their energetic chairman, Mr. Tereso Cruda. The IA ties up with various government agencies like DA, LBP, PCCI among others and some NGOs and LGUs that provide assistance and support on financing and farming related necessities.

In its early years as an Irrigators Association, San D Mil showed great potential and promise to become one of the pioneering IAs in the region. The practice of having a positive outlook and discipline among its officers and members are perhaps the most valuable assets of this IA. With these qualities accompanied with NIA’s constant support and assistance through various trainings and workshops and as well as prompt water distribution and improvement of the irrigation system in the area, it didn’t take long for San D Mil to stand-out among other IAs in BIIS.

Since 2006, San D Mil had been a regular recipient of various awards and recognition in the province of Bohol and throughout Region 7. In 2009, they were awarded most outstanding IA for NIS category in Central Visayas. They were recipient of this award for four (4) consecutive years. Since then, San D Mil had been nominated in several occasions to represent Region 7 in the national level. Although the IA fell short in past occasions, this just made San D Mil’s yearning even stronger to break out at the national level. Eventually, just last NIA’s 50th Anniversary, San D Mil was awarded First Runner Up for the Most Outstanding IA in the NIS category. San D Mil made history for being the first IA in Region 7 to receive recognition in the National Level. Apart from the P100,000 cash award, what was more important was the honor and pride that San D Mil brought for the region.

With the awards and recognitions the IA received, San D Mil has long been an example for other irrigators associations in the region. They set the standards on operation and maintenance and clever approach on ISF collection. When asked about the secret of their success, Chairman Tereso Cruda would simply reply, “Simple ra man among sikreto, disiplina lang ug pagtinabangay (Our secret is simple: discipline and cooperation)”. San D Mil’s success has a very significant impact on the entire IAs of the region, creating an atmosphere of friendly competition which would be beneficial to NIA’s operation.