On March 9, 2023, Engr. Rory F. Avance, Regional Manager A, Engr. Randy C. Alipis, Division Manager A, other staff of the NIA-Iloilo-Guimaras IMO, and the Tigum River Irrigation Federation of Irrigator's Association (TRIFIA) President Mr. Alexander Robles received Mr. SAKAMOTO Takema, Chief Representative, and Ms. Teresa Mendoza, Program Officer of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the province of Iloilo, on their visit to the Sta. Barbara River Irrigation System.
Engr. Avance thanked Mr. SAKAMOTO for his visit and the JICA's assistance in the rehabilitation and improvement of Sta. Barbara RIS and the development of IA support facilities. Furthermore, Engr. Alipis thanked JICA for funding the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project. The system was able to provide irrigation water to 1,282 farmers in the municipalities of Santa Barbara, Leganes, Pavia, and Iloilo City.
Mr. SAKAMOTO also expressed gratitude to the NIA and the IA for welcoming him on his first visit to Iloilo. He stated that he wants to monitor the system's operation and maintenance following its implementation. He was delighted to learn that one of the IA beneficiaries had received the Rice Achievers Award, and he mentioned that it could be useful for a future project. He shares four factors that could attract funding: good project preparation, a good track record, a good facility maintenance record, and an exploration of Japan's good experiences in irrigation, such as adopting Japanese technology. Mr. SAKAMOTO expressed his support for the sustainable development of the programs of the agency. He said he would keep an eye on the development of the farmers of the Sta. Barbara RIS.
Recently, the Sta. Barbara RIS celebrated its 100th year of service, and the NISRIP project is the first to rehabilitate it.
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