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Philrice Field Day

“May you grow and prosper!” NIA-CAR Manager John Socalo is literally talking to the seedlings he planted as he led NIA-CAR staff and members of Irrigators’ Association in a tree planting activity in Tublay despite the soft rain (see related story on p.3)

Cordillera farmers see PhilRice new technologies

More than 70 farmers of the irrigation systems in the Cordillera toured the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Central Experiment Station and met with the other Irrigators’ Associations of Northern and Central Luzon during the PhilRice Field Day and Forum held at Maligaya, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija on September 20, 2011. The farmer-visitors were able to visit the different experimental stations showcasing new rice varieties and Korean cultivars, latest technologies and practices that farmers can utilize in their farms. Exhibits and demonstrations of newly developed/improved farm machineries such as tillers, reapers, dryers, and drum seeders were also shown to the farmers and visitors to encourage greater farm mechanization in rice production. The farmers were also able to consult with and ask questions to the PhilRice experts during the forum. PhilRice is the country's lead agency in rice research and development. Considered to be one of the forefronts of the Philippines' bid for rice self-sufficiency, it was known for innovative approaches to farming focusing on the technology needs of the rice crop management and rice-based farming systems.

CAR to get P969M budget for irrigation projects in 2012

The Cordillera Administrative Region will get P969.7 million in government funding for the construction, repair and rehabilitation of new and existing irrigation systems next year. Engr. John L. Socalo, regional manager of the National Irrigation Administration-CAR, said that the budget allocation of DA, where NIA budget is included being an attached agency, is already being tackled in Congress and is anchored on the Food Staple Sufficiency Roadmap (FSSR). Socalo said that NIA’s budget for CAR for 2012 has tremendously swelled from the P160.2 million budget allocation this year. This increase was part of the budget trend reversal which front-loaded bulk of the budget in 2012 and 2013 to support the government thrust to be 100% self-sufficient in rice and other food staples by 2013 which is the goal of DA’s FSSR. “Prioritization in the identification of projects to be funded is based on the areas to be generated and restored

IA leaders from the Cordillera join other farmers from Northern Luzon as they peek on the experimental stations of PhilRice in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija during the Field Day. Photo courtesy of Zeir Fontanilla

Cordillera farmers... from page 1

Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr., the new PhilRice Executive Director, said that the institute conducts field day and forum annually to present the importance of science and technology to rice production. He shared that in his younger days, his parents usually harvested 1.5 metric tons per hectare as compared to the 3.8-4.0 metric tons per hectare harvest of farmers at present, with the increase mainly attributed to the application rice farming technologies and high-yielding varieties. Meanwhile, Dante de Lima, National Rice Program Coordinator of the Department of Agriculture, said that the Philippines is presently pegged at 82-85% rice sufficient. To bridge this gap, the rehabilitation and restoration of irrigation facilities which according to de Lima are as old as the average 57-year-old farmers is very much needed. He appealed to the Irrigators’ Associations to help the government in the attainment of the rice self-sufficiency goal in 2013. “Hindi na kailangan ng mga m a g s a s a k a ang gobyerno k u n d i kayong mga magsasaka ang kailangan ng gobyerno,” de Lima said. T h e C o o r d i n a t o r further informed that the DA shall also be conducting training for the farmers who will be training their fellow farmers on different agricultural aspects and shall be giving these farmer-trainers incentives equivalent to agricultural workers.

To learn from other Irrigators’ Associations’ success and experiences, twenty-nine officials of the Irrigators’ Associations of the West Abulug Apayao Irrigation System (WAAIS) visited the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (UPRIIS) and met with its best IAs on September 21. The WAAIS farmers first met with the MTG PLIVIRISCAF IA Inc. under the UPRIIS Division V, a National Awardee for Most Outstanding IA in the NIS category for three years, in Padalla, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Mr. Marcelo de Vera, president of the top IA, shared how the organization traveled from its humble beginnings to the top. Through persistent meetings, hard work, cooperation and sacrifice, MTG PLIVIRISCAF IA overcame problems and obstacles and is now reaping the fruits of their success. Meanwhile, Engr. Manuel Bustonera, the Engineering and Operations Section chief of Apayao IMO who led the NIA staff in escorting the farmers in the lakbay-aral, shared the history of WAAIS to the UPRIIS farmers. With the productive outcome of the interaction, Mrs. Merly Berenguel, an

IA member of Quirino Libertad IA in Apayao requested the host to visit WAAIS and conduct the same activity so that the Ilocano’s belief of “jak kita, jak pati” is resolved. The group also had an interaction with LTRIS FIA Inc. of UPRIIS Division 2 at Caananiplahan, Talavera, Nueva Ecija in which the group shared the sacrifices they had to do to solve the problems on water distribution. LTRIS FIA President Mario Verde said that the association has also implemented the Controlled Irrigation, which brought about increase in crop yield by about 20-30 cavans. Verde said that cooperation and unity was their approach towards progressive operation. UPRIIS has a total area of 109,551.17 hectares servicing farmlands in Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac.

IA of Hapid IS wins tractor from DA Sec Throughout the PhilRice Field Day, raffle draws were also held in which lucky farmers were able to win for themselves caps, carbonizers (or mobile gasifiers) and tractors.

Sanafe Mountainside Irrigators’ Association, one of the IAs under the Hapid Irrigation System, were considered one of the luckiest participants to the forum for winning one of the six tractors to be given by the DA Secretary Proceso Alcala as divulged by National Rice Coordinator de Lima during his speech. The tractor shall be handed to the six winning IAs upon verification of their SEC registration, which is the main criteria set for the tractor raffle draw.

WAAIS meets UPRIIS. Officials and IA leaders of both NISs smile together for a photo after a fruitful discussion and interaction. Photo courtesy of Zeir Fontanilla

Reports from Apayao IMO

news

WAAIS IA leaders meet UPRIIS top IAs

Tebteb ni Cordillera

Abra farmer leaders rode for the first time in a bleacher vehicle utilized by PhilRice to tour more than a thousand farmers who visited their research stations. The Abrenian farmers were accompanied by the staff of the RIO-Abra-Benguet IMO.

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Tebteb ni Cordillera news 3

KIMP-IMO employees in Ifugao planted about 1,000 mahogany seedlings in Lamut as they conducted their tree planting activity twice.

NIA-CAR greens Cordillera In response to the National Greening Program of the government, employees of the NIA-Cordillera Administrative Region conducted series of tree planting activities in several areas of the region in the previous months. The regional staff, together with members of the Anoding Irrigators’ Association, planted dozens of tree seedlings at Brgy. Caponga, Tublay, Benguet on July 8, 2011. Despite the soft drizzle, the group led by Regional Manager John Socalo proceeded with the planting of pine and alnus tree seedlings. The trees planted are expected to help preserve irrigation water in the future as the area is one of the water sources of the Kapongan CIS in Brgy. Caponga, Tublay, Benguet. Meanwhile, Kalinga-Ifugao-Mt. Province (KIMP) IMO staff in Kalinga planted 150 seedlings of mahogany within the Andarayan Communal Irrigation System in Rizal, Kalinga on June 23. About 1,000 mahogany seedlings were collectively planted by NIA-KIMP-IMO employees in Brgy. Landing, Lamut in Ifugao on July 22 and August 19. The National Greening Program of the government as per Executive Order 26, series of 2011 directs all government agencies and LGUs to mobilize all government employees, including students from Grade 5 to college level, to plant at least 10 seedlings each, annually. Manager Socalo said that tree planting during this rainy season is advantageous as there is lower mortality rate of seedlings planted. The tree planting activities were conducted in coordination with the Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENRO) near the planting vicinities. Mr. Fremer William, NIA-CAR hydrologist, said that the tree planting activities will help in sustaining the availability of water in irrigation systems as irrigation is one of the major users of water worldwide. The NIA regional office and field offices are also establishing nurseries to breed tree seedlings.

UCRIS IAs, staffs get insights from MARIIS chiefs, IAs

The visiting group from UCRIS are learning a lot from MARIIS staff headed by Operations Manager Mariano Dancel during their lakbay-aral. Photo courtesy of KIMP-IMO

UCRIS IAs and staffs were flooded with ideas and insights on Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) and improving ISF collection after interacting with the Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (MARIIS) officials headed by Operations Manager Mariano Dancel and their IA counterparts in the said system. Before attending the PhilRice Field Day, the UCRIS delegation as part of their TEP visited MARIIS office in Cauayan, Isabela on September 19. “IAs should always take the opportunity to be enjoined in TEPs as these are show windows that will help in their respective work in the system’s operation and maintenance and for the proper management of their organizations,” said Engr. Dancel as he warmly welcomed the visitors. Engr. Wilfredo Gloria, Division Manager of the Engineering and Operations, shared that MARIIS has a total service area of 84,795 hectares with 363 IAS which were clustered into 52 Council of IAs covering 79,613 hectares of irrigated area. These IAs are now under IMT Contracts with 50-50% NIA-IA sharing upon attaining 100% ISF collection efficiency on current accounts. The UCRIS farmers and staff queried on IMT issues and ISF collection strategies of MARIIS. Likewise, they were able to drop by the offices of MARIIS Confederated IAs which are found on the first floor of MARIIS office. After which, they also visited the separate office of the RAMCOR Council of IAs (CIA) in Ramon, Isabela and interacted with the council’s officers and members. The officers of the said council shared the activities of their organization including the current IA trends of development focusing on leadership and discipline, proper planning and budgeting, equal sharing of benefits among IA members and its impact to the socio-economic growth of its members. Reports from PM Cuaresma

Tebteb ni Cordillera feature 4

by PM Cuaresma

Iti nagan na laengen ket naidumduma, nagan ti baniaga, isu awan dudua naalibtak isuna. No ada seminar, training ken meeting ti IA isuna lata kasapaan, gamin ni Manong Stewart isu ti

official a para iggem documentos ken pasimuno ti panagtaray ti trabajo ti uneg ti IA. Dinagas ko ta apan ko kitaen ti panakaisagana ti notice maipanggep ti meeting da ti financial

transaction ken recording ket saan ko nadanon. Saan a nabayag addan isuna. “Nasapaak a rimuar ket nagsayaat ta nadanon ko dagiti kaduak nga ofisiales,”

inpasungad na. Ket kunak met nga insungbat “an early bird catches the healthy worms”.

“Wen ma’am, kasta a talaga!” kunana.“Matuloy ti review ti IA book of accounts tayo.” Ket dayta ti kunana a sikreto ti panakaur

urnos itan ti IA da nangruna ti financial records. “Innayon na pay no nalawag ti kuwenta nalagda ti panagkakadua.”

Real name ni Manong ket Stewart Sangao, IA Secretary, tubo ti Bontoc, Mt.Province. Kasta met ni Manong Marcial, nasaludsod ko maipapan ti sikreto na nga agkolekta ti

irrigation service fee. Kinunana nga apaman nakatresher ti farmer-members jay TSAG nan ket siguden na ti apan sumarungkar kano. Saan met isuna mapaay ta agbayad da met ti obligasyon da ti padanum. Uray pay dagiti sumagmamano a dakkel ti area na a landowners ti IA ket natulnog ken agbayad da numan pay aguray da ti deadline. Adda dagiti mamindua a sublien ngem nakaskedyul isunan a mangsingir ket iyawat na met ti bayad serbisyo padanum no la ket tinungpal mo ti aldaw

a tulag. Kaaduan na a farmers kayat da agbayad kaniak, birbirokenadak, isu iraman ko meten dagiti daduma a TSAG uray ta counted met laeng iti dayta a TSAG. No iyawat dan rebbeng alaekon

sayang no palabsen pay para met laeng ti IA, kinunana. Isu ni Mr. Marcial Castro TSAG #8 Chairman, IA Collector ken BOD.

Gapu kadagitoy pumintas ti record ti IA .Ti naglabas a wet crop season 2010 isu ti damdamu unay nga nakagun-odan da ti ISF IA Collection share nga 5% wenno agarup P18,000.00.

Base toy naudi nga collection ket agarup 10% ita ti maala ti IA nga ISF incentive share da nga umabot P80,000.00 iti daytoy dry crop season 2011. Dimmakkel ti nakollekta da gapu ta immado met ti TSAG kolektors a timmulong ita. Maysa laeng dayto kadigiti daduma pay a pamartuatan ti IA ti pondo da.

Ti Catao-Nambaran IA ket maysa kadagiti 10 nga registered IAs ti Tabuk area nga agdama nga mapapapigsa. Nabukel ken nairehistro iti SEC idi 2006, nakikontrata ti IA nga umawat ti Type I&Type II contract iti NIA. Kurang laeng ti bassit tapno 600 Hectares ti napalpalabas nga area na ket itan ti napadanuman nga area na ket 625 hectares nga bukbuklen

ti 470 a mannalon ken dagitoy baro nga officiales na na-electaran da idi June last year. “Babaen ti panangtaming da dagiti obligasyon da (membros ken officials ) natulnog da nangruna ti group work

activities da,” kuna ni Manong Stewart. Kada 25 ti mabilang ti bulan ket ada BOD meeting da, ket agtaripnong da kitaen, riparen ken iwayat da ti schedule

da ti panagpadanum. Dagijay na-iasayan nga para agiturong ti padanum ket addada lata ken karaman

dagiti boluntario nga aggunay. Nu man pay ada sumaggaysa ken sagpaminsan nga miembro nga lumabsing ti pagannurotan ti IA sigsiguden da a kasao ti maseknan , katulongan ti IA iti Chairman ti Agriculture Committee ti barangay

Nambaran. Kas tay sao ni Manong Tony Ganagan Sr. “Follow-up ti masapul, ” isuna ti TSAG Chairman #7, BOD, BLGU-Committee Chairman on Agriculture.

Segun ti sao ni Manong Fed Compas-IA Treasurer, “Mayat ti IA gayam no agkuti amin a leaders. Epekitbo kami a mangidaulo no sikami ket agserbi ken aggunay kami para ti IA ta sumurot dagiti miembros,” nasao na. Ket segun met

laeng kiniana, dakkel ti naitulong dagiti seminars ken trainings nga nai-conduct para kadakami kas ti panagaramid ken panang-update mi ti operations record ti IA, Financial Management Seminar, ti panangurnos ti organizational structure ti IA inggana ti TSAG and different committees. Ket dagitoy nga inadal mi isu nangted ti husto nga addang a mapadur-as

met ti IA mi. Anian a naragsak kami amin ita ta mapadpadas mi metten ti umawat ti incentibo a makuna’” inlippas na. Ken innayon na pay, “Ita ta madama kami agtraining ti BLDC maamuan mi pay ti panangidaulo”.

Rumegregta ti Catao-Nambaran IA ket mamati kami nga maragpat da ti arapaap da, isu nga padaanan ti tuloy iti interview tayo iti mangidadaulo iti IA ta isalaysay na dagiti interventions a naisayangkat iti uneg ti assosasyon da.....

nangruna ti kaadda ti nagaget a supervisor da.

Manong Stewart

Manong Marcial

Manong Tony

Manong Fred

Ti CATAO-NAMBARAN IA ken dagiti Nabileg nga (Manong) Leaders

***This portion is especially reserved for IA’s matters and interests. SIDOs, IDOs, IA members and others concerned are invited to put their ideas, in-sights, experiences and activities into writing so that others may dwell on them, appreciate them and learn from them. Any language/Cordilleran language/dialect will do.

by PP Yagyagan

by FF Fanged

Delinquent ISF payor learns a lesson

NIA-CAR is an agency which performs very satisfactorily. This was observed by Mr. Feliciano N. Diso Jr., head of the Community Relations Department of Philex Mining Corporation. In his closing remarks during the Basic Leadership Development Course for their organized association, Mr. Diso said that NIA-CAR is one of the government agencies that they observed and saw to be performing very satisfactorily, the main reason that the company invited the agency’s experts to facilitate in the Basic Leadership Development Course Training. Philex Mining Corporation conducted the Basic Leadership Development Course for Caluminga Farmers and Irrigators’ Association on September 6-7, 2011 in Padcal, Tuba. Through the company’s Social Development and Management Program, this association was organized and should be developed to operate and manage their pump irrigation system that showcase the company’s sincere commitment of supporting the host and neighboring communities through projects. The two day training was participated by 31 members of the association. Ms. Maria Theresa Manuel and Ms. Paulita Yagyagan, both of the NIA-CAR institutional unit facilitated the said training. Mr. Diso remarked that the company is looking forward for more partnership with NIA-CAR in developing its communities and neighboring communities to be stable physically, socially, spiritually and financially.

Philex Mines lauds NIA-CAR

Some people learn the hard way. A delinquent client of the Upper Chico River Irrigation System in Tabuk City, Kalinga had to pay NIA-CAR an initial amount of P0.5 million as a result of his negligence in paying his obligatory irrigation service fee (ISF) for 20 years. The account of the said delinquent, after computation, ballooned to P706, 000 as of August 2011. This outcome stemmed from the civil case filed by NIA-CAR against the delinquent ISF payor from Tabuk City, Kalinga on September 23, 2009. After a year of litigation, Judge Camacho of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) First Judicial Region Branch 62 issued the court’s decision on August 31, 2010 in favor of NIA-CAR and ordered the defendant to pay the NIA-CAR the unpaid ISF and penalties including legal interest and litigating expenses. Despite the judgment and order of the court, the defendant still ignored his obligation. NIA-CAR, in the protection of its rights, sought again the intervention of the court for the promulgation of the writ of execution for the sale of real property of the defendant which led the court to issue a Notice of Sale and Execution of Real Property. On the scheduled auction sale of the property on August 30, 2011 at the Justice Hill, La Trinidad, Benguet, defendant came and offered for a settlement which the sheriff granted, provided that all incidental expenses relative to the litigation of the case will be added which the defendant agreed. Out of the computed P706,000.00, the defendant deposited an initial amount of P.5 M. NIA, as a GOCC, is mandated to charge and collect ISF from beneficiaries of National Irrigation Systems as per RA 3601 as amended by PD 551 and PD 1702. During the wet season, NIA farmer-clienteles are charged of 2 cavans per hectare and 3 cavans per hectare in the dry season. The computation of the cash equivalent price of ISF is based on the government support price of palay. RA 3601 also provides that judicial actions for the collection of unpaid irrigation fees shall be governed by the Rules of Court.

NIAns learn ‘photoshopping’. They are again one step computer smarter after attending the image editing training on September 14-15. A similar activity shall be held for the IMOs according to ID Unit chief Evaristo Aquino.

Tebteb ni Cordillera

when the irrigation projects are completed,” Socalo said. The NIA-CAR 2012 allocation was broken down to P196.6 million for the Participatory Irrigation Development Project (PIDP), a foreign assisted project for the repair and rehabilitation of the National Irrigation Systems, and P773 million for the locally funded projects. Chunks of the budget for the locally funded projects is for two Small Reservoir Irrigation Projects (SRIP), both having multi-year programmed implementation periods. These are the Marimay SRIP in Apayao and Upper Butigue SRIP in Paracelis having a line allocation next year of P73.72 million and P100 million respectively. The irrigation projects which will be funded totaling to more than 307 projects are expected to rehabilitate 2,343 hectares, restore 1,772 hectares and generate new area of 2,696 hectares in both the national irrigation systems and communal irrigation systems all over the region.

news

CAR to get... from page 1

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Dribble the ball.. shoot! IA members organized by the Philex Mines learn communication and management through a ball game during a leadership training. Photo by MP Manuel

Tebteb ni Cordillera opinion 6

The Official Newsletter of the NIACordillera Administrative Region

Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet

Editorial AdviserJOHN L. SOCALO

Tebteb ni Cordillera are Ibaloi words meaning

Spring of the Cordillera. With the region dubbed as the

“Watershed Cradle of Northern Philippines”,

this paper hopes to see the headwaters of rivers in the

North eternally and lavishly flow.

Tebteb is also called Eb-eb, Obob, Bubon or Ub-bog in

other parts of the Cordillera.

EDITORIAL STAFF

Tebteb ni Cordillera welcomes contributory articles, feaures and pictures.

ContributorsPAULITA YAGYAGANPURIFICACION CUARESMALETTY DACAWEFRANK FANGED

Associate EditorsRITA L. AFIDCHAOHELEN T. LAOYAN

Editorial ConsultantsGRACE A. FANGEDBENITO T. ESPIQUE, JR.

Editor-in-Chief/Lay-outMYLENE I. MALECDAN

from the RIM’s table

JOHN L. SOCALO Regional Manager

In our pursuit of a better performance towards our goal-oriented plans, we cannot help but be prone and flexible to changes and advances.

However, as we learn new things and adapt to changes, there are a lot of old things we should not bury and forget. These are the things worth remembering, for they are our stepping stones to our present. These are the lessons of the past. These are the pieces of advice that our predecessors bequeathed to us. These are the trainings we have gone through during our yesteryears. These are the experiences that made us wiser. These are the tests and trials that made us more resilient. Because of all of these, we made it through the storms.

Remember that before we could talk and walk, we were babies who babbled and crawled. Our past is important because history allows us to understand and appreciate the present. And as we battle through to our future, let the good past remain. Let us review them and apply them. This will help us a lot as we again strive for viability and achieve commitments in the name of food security.

May we have a prosperous fourth quarter!

I remember a story I read somewhere about two seriously ill men in a hospital room. One was allowed to sit up for an hour in the afternoon to drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back in traction, and a half-wall between the beds kept him from seeing the window. The men talked for hours on end, about their families, jobs and other things. Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window was allowed to sit up, he described to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The other man longed for that afternoon hour everyday when his perspective was broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the outside world, as the man who sat by the window described them in exquisite detail: lovers holding hands and strolling by, children playing, flowers lining the park, etc... The man listening to what the other man is seeing grew so envious he began to resent his roommate and felt almost desperate to take his place. When the man by the window passed away, the other man requested to be transferred to the former’s bed, a wish granted by the attending nurse. Now he could see things for himself. He was astonished to see that all there is to see outside the window was a blank wall! He called the nurse and asked, “How could my roommate have seen all the things he described to me? Why would he tell me about so much beauty, and in such detail, when all that is actually visible outside this window is a wall of dirty old bricks?” The nurse responded, “Oh, my…didn’t you know? Your former roommate was blind. He couldn’t even see the wall. Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.” We normally feel emotional about the story above, not because we pity the two men, but because it is a reflection in itself. Sometimes, we want to trade places with someone else because of envy. We feel obsessed with things we do not have. We fail to appreciate what we have, to the point of missing out on the joy of having them. There are times when in our quest for success, we feel a sting of jealousy. We see people who easily get what they want and who seem to be without problems. But the truth is, every situation has problems, every life has troubles, every relationship has difficulty, every opportunity has tough challenges. How nice it would be if what we emulate instead is the blind man who looks beyond the visible if only to make somebody else happy.

Always Remember!The Blank Wall

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Communication is defined by Wikipedia as the activity of conveying meaningful information. It requires a sender, a message and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast distances in time and space. The communication process is complete once the receiver has understood the message of the sender. Information, the lifeblood of any organization, needs to flow freely to be effective. Successful management requires downward communication to subordinates, upward communication to superiors, and horizontal communication to peers in other divisions. Getting a task done, perhaps through delegation, is just one aspect of the manager's job. Obtaining the resources to do that job, letting others know what is going on, and coordinating with others are also crucial skills. These skills keep the organization working, and enhance the visibility of the manager and the division, thus ensuring continued support and promotion. (Reference for Business, Encyclopedia of Business, 2nd edition) Development in lay man’s term is simply putting something that is supposed to be there and removing something that is not supposed to be there. For the longest time, development is the ultimate reason of our existence and that of all organizations. To make things work to achieve development, we need communication. We have various communication approaches; the downward, upward and horizontal communications.

Downward communication was the most famous arrow in most organizations until the surge of upward communication that it became the trend in most operations both in the government and the private sectors. The former style is now being frowned at but the latter gives us strength and perseverance to achieve the goal of the organization, that is, DEVELOPMENT. There’s no life if there’s no communication and if there’s no life, there’s no development. In every movement that we do communication is being done. In an organization, open communication is the prime factor in order to have a healthy working relationship. Only communication will make things possible and it will set you free. It will bring development in all aspects of our lives and that of our organization. Let me share you of some events that happened due to communication: First, there was EDSA I. Everybody especially in Metro Manila went to the streets to voice out and stage their peaceful revolution against former dictator, Ferdinand E. Marcos that eventually sent him fleeing to Hawaii. During EDSA 2, the word of staging a peaceful revolution was reinforced with the use of text messaging through cell phones and other communication gadgets so the spread of information was so fast that the supporters of then Pres. Joseph Estrada were helpless to counter the bold move of the people who were outraged of the 11-10 voting of the controversial envelope. It was quite unthinkable to

depose a president through the strength of an open communication. Another phenomenon was the transformation of USSR, a hard line communist country from the Godless Communism to Christian democracy. This conversion was possible when Mikhael Gorbachev introduced Glasnost and Perestroika which means openness and truth, freedom of choice and restructuring. People were given the chance to voice out what they want. This transformation caused the end of communism in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic which eventually led to its disbandment. Each soviet republic preferred independence. Open communication gives confidence to a person. Building self-reliance is not a spur of the moment advantage but it will carry us through. In our present organization, open communication/upward communication is very much prevalent in the entire NIA halls. We are not hypocrites to say that it is the same with the previous administration but which do you prefer? You call the shots. The challenge is….. we should keep the worth keeping lessons and teachings that were embedded to our souls courtesy of that downward communication and to improve and be an asset to the organization while enjoying open/upward communication for the sake of dear development. So development through communication calls for openness, truth, flexibility and sincerity. Development is everywhere but will never be sustainable if there is no communication and communication is useless if it is used to abuse one self, the environment or even the entire community. It is only communication that not even the richest man on earth could conquer. Communication is for everybody, let us use them for DEVELOPMENT.

Iya-iyaman edwaniEn datako ay man-iliIya-iyaman kasinSin bendisyon en datako

Iyaman sin opisyales takoSin panangipangpango yoNamed no ipameeting yoPansayaatan di ad-adu

Irigasyon ay-aywananUray nanlasin bayanihanEt laton pay, laton pay dedanMantultuloy pansayaatan

Nagaget ay taga NIASin layad yon dakamiKararag mi salun-at yoMantultuloy panagservi yo.

by Rita L. Afidchao

Communication and Development

Tebteb ni Cordillera opinion

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IRIGASYON

Tebteb ni Cordillera FEATURE 8

Flowing for eons, the Siffu River is the main river system traversing Natonin and Southern Paracelis. As the giver of life to both man and beast, the people of Natonin held the Siffu in reverence and spun a rich cache of lore and legend about it. A bailey bridge has been recently constructed in Namfetoen, Tufuy connecting Natonin to neighboring Aguinaldo in Ifugao.

Two proposed dams are to be built on the Siffu. The HEDCOR has proposed to build a mini-hydro dam in Laken or the Upper Sifu within the territorial jurisdiction of Barangay Balangao and the NIA is building an irrigation cum hydo-power dam named as the UPPER BUTIGUE SMALL RESERVOIR IRRIGATION PROJECT (UB-SRIP) at the Lower Siffu most likely at the boundary of Paracelis and Natonin. The UB-SRIP will have a dam of thirty-five meters in height and a reservoir of six kilometers in length upstream. It will service Bananao, Butigue, Palitod, Anonat and Muliang, all barangays of Paracelis. When the dam is operational it is expected to turn Paracelis into a main producer of rice. It is also hoped to rake in revenues for Natonin when the hydro-power is installed.

THE TREKWe started the trek down to Fuyfuy after the meeting. The

men carried our provisions. As they walked faster, Letty and I were left behind. We followed the road until we came to the one room school house of Bunag. The men were nowhere in sight. They had gone far ahead. Julio Lamong, Artemio’s uncle waited for us in the school ground. This is where the path to Fuyfuy starts. Julio kept pace with us as we might get lost. The path was cut through the forest.

What I thought to be a short walk almost took an eternity. Our shirts stuck to our bodies as it is hotter in these parts. The path was downhill and winding. We exchanged only a few words for we needed to conserve our energy for the trek. As we walked, Letty mentioned to me that Engr. Apil himself, the NIA Boss in KIMP-IMO visited this area and walked this path. The irrigation executive must have been impelled by devotion to his job or a sheer sense of adventure to leave the comforts of his office to come to the outback.

We passed a few uma(s). Life has not changed much since the time of our forebears. Up to this day, people still homesteaded in Tufoy using the same system of farming. Women carry their produce on their heads and the men on their atofang, balancing two baskets suspended on a wooden pole on their shoulders. They walk three hours to the Poblacion to sell their products for only a pittance. Yet they don’t complain, they took life as it came and patiently go

On June 1-3, 2011, NIA-KIMP-IMO facilitated the conduct of a pre-implementation meeting with the adversely affected individuals in Tuboy, Banawel, Natonin, as well as a walkthrough of the proposed reservoir and dam which started upstream at Tuboy and Bunag, Banawel following the Siffu River downstream to Bananao, Paracelis. Ms. Penelope Lumines is one of the representatives from Natonin LGU who joined the aforementioned activities. A writer at heart, she shares her rare experience in a stirring short story capturing the enormity of the Siffu River, and the exceptionality of life in the mountains.-LF Dacawe

The Siffu River Challenge

through the grind of daily life hoping that things will get better. They see the construction of the road and the bridge as signs that there is hope for economic advancement in the Tufoy area. The proposed dam is projected as another herald of hope for Tufoy. It is expected to bring in jobs, more livelihood opportunities and serviceable roads.

I feared encountering a cobra or a python as we came to portions of the path where the foliage and vegetation was thick but I kept my fears to myself. These reptiles are the hardiest among the wild denizens of Tufoy. They adapted well to change and human encroachment on their environment and survived. We finally reached the homestead of Lewaleo Chumawin by the river bank. We were in Fuyfuy at last. The men were waiting for us. This is the fechangan or crossing point. The fechangan is the shallow portion of the river which can be crossed on foot.

It was not as close as I thought, because I calculated the distance in air miles. After a few minutes rest, they gave the go signal to cross. The men stripped down to their briefs. They have to keep their clothes and backpacks dry. It was more convenient to cross with less clothes on. As they crossed, they held their backpacks over their heads. Watching them, I could tell that the current must be strong at the middle.

Artemio came back for Letty and me. He already brought over our bags to the opposite bank. I went first. I held his hand as we crossed. The water was chest high and the current was very strong at the middle even during summer. The strength of the current tested my confidence. I learned to swim as a child yet I still feared being carried away. When we reached the opposite bank, Artemio made one last trip across for Letty. Like me, she held on to Artemio’s hand. Having grown up in more urban Bontoc, she didn’t have much experience with rivers. She sort of panicked and both shrieked and laughed while crossing. Later she admitted to us that her prime concern was not being carried away but she was afraid her dentures might fall into the water…

The author is dunked chest high as she goes across the first of the five ‘fechangan’ or crossing points of the river during the travel.

Read the full story of “The Sifu River Challenge” and be dazzled by the greatness of the Siffu River, the denseness of the surrounding forest and the brave dramatic life of the native folks. The story also gives vivid accounts of the legendary ‘lamag’ (crocodile) of the river, the pristine water, the exotic food, the colorful flora and fauna. Find the story on the web at http://www.wattpad.com/2425598-the-siffu-river-challenge-by-penelope-lumines or http://www.scribd.com/doc/69527801/Siffu-River-Story

This spot of the Siffu River is where the proposed dam will be built. It can be reached by a four-hour hike from Brgy. Bananao, Paracelis.

An Excerptby Penelope B. Lumines

Tebteb ni Cordillera news 9

NIA-CAR Manager John Socalo hands over the turnover papers of Taloy Sur CIS in Tuba, Benguet to Mr. Brian Ducat, president of Taloy Sur IA.

Starting this coming dry season, the National Irrigation Administration will be setting up demonstration farms on Water Savings Technology-Alternate Wetting and Drying (WST-AWD) in National Irrigation Systems in the region. This was revealed by Engr. Noly Q. Sabado, head of the Operation and Maintenance Section of NIA-CAR, after attending the Workshop and Planning on the Launching of Water Management Demonstration Farms on WST-AWD at the NIA-Central Office on September 19-20. The project will set up a one-hectare demonstration farm for each system with areas below 3,000 hectares and two one-hectare demonstration farms for each system of more than 3,000 ha. The selected demo farms will be jointly managed by the landowner or actual tiller and selected IA officers as the farmer-cooperators which will carry out all farming activities in the farms. Farm sites and IA cooperators shall be selected based on sets of criteria provided by the Participatory Irrigation Development Program (PIDP), and a memorandum of agreement shall be executed among NIA, selected IA and the landowner/actual tiller. Farm rental of P20,000 for each demo farm shall be provided by the project to cover the labor cost and materials needed in the monitoring and data gathering. Engr. Sabado said that the office can also extend the establishment of demo farms in areas not covered by the PIDP such as in Hapid IS in Ifugao. The implementation of WSTs was mandated by DA Administrative Order No. 25 to effect the judicious use of water. In AWD, rice fields are flooded to a lesser extent and allowed to dry at a certain level. It involves the installation of observation well in rice paddies to monitor the status of field water and to determine when to reflood the field.

NIA to launch WST demo farms

this dry season

NIA-CAR chief attends project turnoverTuba, Benguet–The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) first irrigation project in Benguet under the 2011 regular fund was completed and turned over to the farmer-beneficiaries in this town on September 23. NIA-CAR Manager John Socalo informed that the project was funded under the Balik Sagip Patubig Program of the Department of Agriculture. Socalo urged the farmers to continue with their endeavors in unity and hoped that the irrigation system can withstand calamities so that it can serve the farmers longer. According to the manager, he was glad to have joined the turnover activity as it was the first turnover he attended in his more than 30 years in NIA. “We are very thankful for the rehabilitation and restoration of our irrigation system as we are now able to fully irrigate our farmlands,” said Mr. Brian Ducat, president of the Taloy Sur Irrigators’ Association to which the Taloy Sur Communal Irrigation System was turned over during a simple ceremony on September 23. The association, with some assistance from the NIA, shall now be responsible for the management, operation and maintenance of the system. Taloy Sur Communal Irrigation System, which was first constructed in 1988 and rehabilitated after the earthquake in 1990, can now fully serve the 28 hectares of

farmland planted with high value crops. The inauguration and turnover ceremony of the system was also attended by Tuba Vice-mayor Clarita Sal-ongan, representatives from the governor’s office, NIA staff, barangay officials, and members of the Taloy Sur Irrigators’ Association. At present, there are still 13 ongoing irrigation projects for 2011 in Benguet being implemented by the NIA. All the five calamity projects and two Agrarian Reform Fund projects were completed.

FB Job Gen

Rest'n New Rest'd New

RIO-Abra-Benguet IMO1. Abra 10 26,423 211 115 34 360 728 58 115 9 182 316 230 73 2. Benguet 21 24,300 96 90 88 274 574 55 82 37 174 351 260 83 KIMP-IMO3. Kalinga 43 63,200 2,765 186 243 3,194 3,184 1,057 50 - 1,107 989 274 35 4. Ifugao 12 40,600 2,279 115 26 2,420 2,803 1,098 - 10 1,108 992 239 54 5. Mt. Province 11 7,300 70 9 6 85 331 4 - - 4 20 53 52 Apayao IMO6. Apayao 15 52,300 2,348 265 124 2,737 1,426 946 - 10 946 474 340 49 TOTAL 112 214,123 7,769 780 521 9,070 9,046 3,218 247 66 3,531 3,142 1,396 53

AREA (HA)

Rehab

Add'lTOTAL

Status of Phy .

Accomp (%)

STATUS OF CY 2011 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATIONas of September 30, 2011

IMO/PROVINCENo. of ProJ

TOTAL ALLOCATION ('000)

PROGRAM CY 2011

AREA (HA)

Rehab

Add'lTOTAL

FB

ACTUAL ACCOMP. TO DATE

Tebteb ni Cordillera feature 10

Part of the would-be reservoir area of the Upper Butigue SRIP. Both river banks that would be submerged by the reservoir of 6 kilometers upstream from the dam axis are mostly forest and agricultural lands.

In an effort to catch up with the targeted construction schedule of the Upper Butigue Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) located in Paracelis, Mountain Province which is pipelined for implementation in 2012-2014, the Kalinga-Ifugao-Mountain Province Irrigation Management Office (KIMP-IMO) facilitated the conduct of a series of pre-implementation activities for the said project just a month before the advent of the second semester this year.

Upper Butigue has a total potential area of 1,784 hectares located in Barangays Bananao, Butigue, Palitud and Anonat of the municipality of Paracelis. A 35-meter high dam shall be constructed at the boundary of Paracelis and Natonin along the Siffu River with a reservoir of six kilometers upstream. When realized, the project with an indicative cost of seven hundred twenty million pesos (P720 M), and the first of its kind to be implemented in the province, shall benefit 768 farmers and is expected to turn the municipality into a main producer of rice.

The pre-engineering program of work for the project was approved first quarter of 2011 and funds were subsequently released paving the way for the conduct of at least three major pre-implementation

NIA prepares for Upper Butigue SRIP activities, namely right-of-way negotiation and acquisition, survey works and acquisition of free and prior informed consent (FPIC) from the affected community. To jumpstart these activities, KIMP-IMO conducted a pre-inventory meeting and walkthrough of the project area in June 1-3, 2011 which was participated by the affected individuals, as well as representatives from the LGUs of Natonin and Paracelis, both of Mountain Province.

The project was first conceptualized in the early 1990s with only the feasibility study report prepared in 1999. Exactly ten years after, the detailed engineering activities were undertaken in which the KIMP-IMO conducted series of focus group discussions with the potential beneficiaries, adversely affected individuals, LGUs, DENR-CENRO and other concerned stakeholders during which an in-depth pulse from the communities covered by the project were gathered.

In an interview with Mr. Valdez Lapasen, a retired teacher and former President of the Butigue IA, he quipped, “I am for the project for as long as I am justly compensated for the property that may be submerged. I am always for the development and improvement of the municipality of Paracelis more so that the project would benefit the majority.” He further stated that he has around 10 hectares planted with mango, coffee and forest trees that may be affected at the proposed dam area.

Up to this date, while there is an opposition from a few, most of the stakeholders anticipate the project as a welcome development to this eastern part of Mountain Province.

During the stakeholders’ meeting held at Waterworld Resort, Ramon, Isabela held in July 7-8, 2011, the barangay and municipal LGUs of Natonin and Paracelis including the DENR-CENRO expressed their support for the project. Likewise, Engr. Raymundo B. Apil, chief of KIMP-IMO, committed to constantly coordinate with all stakeholders especially with the affected families to sustain smooth undertaking of all project-related activities.

We survived! After a tricky 18-kilometer trek following Siffu River, representatives from the KIMP-IMO, Paracelis and Natonin LGU pose with Butigue folks who are soon to be affected by the SRI Project. At the backdrop is a solid rock wall for the proposed dam structure.

by LF Dacawe