The System Management Committee (SMC) meeting of the three irrigation systems of the Jalaur-Suague River Irrigation System held on April 28, 2023, at the Pototan Coliseum, Pototan, Iloilo, felt different than usual, with the involvement of partner agencies for a synchronized distribution of assistance to the farmers to tackle the possible response to the upcoming El Nino.
This collaborative SMC meeting tackled the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the three RIS (Jalaur Proper RIS, Jalaur Extension RIS, and Suague RIS) of the National Irrigation Administration-Iloilo-Guimaras Irrigation Management Office (NIA-IGIMO) for their end-season evaluation for dry 2023 and planning for wet 2023. This also aims to address strategies and initiatives for farmers as they prepare for the upcoming wet crop season in 2023.
“We encourage our partner agencies to attend the SMC meeting to synchronize the distribution of our assistance to our irrigator’s associations and the farmers of the province,” said Engr. Randy C. Alipis, Division Manager A of the NIA-IGIMO.
This convergence is a pursuit of NIA to provide timely distribution of programs and projects of partner agencies that complement each other in order to reduce wastage of timeliness in implementation, according to the Regional Manager A of the NIA Region VI, Engr. Rory F. Avance. “Ang punto naton diri, dapat ma-fit ang programa sang iban nga ahensya sa iban pa nga partner agency agod ang timeliness sang programa hindi masayang”, he said.
Meanwhile, as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecasts the probability that El Nino will start in June, July, and August, Engr. Avance said to start planning for the upcoming drought. He said that whatever adjustments to be made in the cropping calendar and pattern of planting, IA and the federation must be notified.
This activity highlighted the collaboration of the government agencies to support the farming activities of the farmers, thus farmers are expected to also give their support to the agencies for smooth program implementation.
Representatives from various partner agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, the Landbank of the Philippines, the Philippine Rice Research Institute, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, and local governments, are on hand to discuss strategies and initiatives for the Irrigator's Associations as they prepare for the upcoming wet crop season in 2023.
This activity ends with hopes for a good synergy in which everyone works together to achieve the common objective of better farming despite the threat of El Nino.
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