- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Negros Occidental Federations of Irrigators’ Associations (IAs), composed of 160 IAs with 16,154 farmer-members in the province, committed to support the government’s programs to achieve rice sufficiency in the country.
The farmer-members are tilling 19,661.27 hectares of irrigated agricultural land in the province.
In the IA Congress held in Bacolod City Nov. 7, the officers of the Federation of Irrigators’ Association Central Negros-Bago River Irrigation System (FIACN-BRIS), Federation of Irrigators’ Associations of Pangiplan River Irrigation System (FIA-PRIS) Inc., and Nofia Inc. signed a Pledge of Commitment to support the National Irrigation Administration towards the realization of the flagship programs Masagana 150 and Masagana 200” of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is also the concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
“We affirm our commitment and unwavering support for the agricultural development program of the President…(and) bind ourselves to be at the forefront in the implementation of the program thrust and all undertakings of the DA, in strong partnership with the NIA,” the IA leaders committed during the ceremony witnessed by NIA Administrator Benny Antiporda, NIA Region 6 manager Rory Avance, and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, among others.
Ferrer said that food security has always been a priority program of the province, and he assured the congress participants that he and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson will continue to support the IAs.
Antiporda, in his message, said the NIA will continue to help the farmers and IAs, even as he also asked for cooperation from them to ensure the sustainability and success of the government’s programs on food sufficiency./CGC
