(from left to right: RM. Membreve, Cong. Aumentado, Gov’s rep.-Lungay, MAO head Cardino, Comaang Capt. Salera, Bacani Capt. Sanchez and IA BOT)
COMAAG CLARIN – On Friday, February 9, 2018, the National Irrigation Administration Regional Office 7, through the Bohol Irrigation Management Office formally conveyed the operation and maintenance of the newly accomplished extension project of Bacani Communal Irrigation System to its beneficiaries, the Bacani-Cotama Irrigators Association Inc. of Barangay Comaang, Clarin Bohol, headed by its president Tito G. Virtudazo.
The turnover ceremony began at around 9:30 in the morning at the Barangay Comaag Basketball Court which was attended by 2nd district Congressman Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado, NIA R7 personnel, IA officers, members and other local government officials.
Engr. Modesto G. Membreve, the newly returned Regional Manager of Region NIA-R7, personally facilitated the turnover.
It was his second attended Communal Irrigation System project turnover ceremony since his return as head of NIA R7 last January 15, 2018.
In his turnover message, RM Membreve expressed how happy he is that the farmers of Bacani and Comaang will enjoy and benefit from the newly finished Communal Irrigation System extension project that will certainly help boost their cropping production.
He also added that as regional manager of the NIA, he is only an instrument used by the government to convey its service to the people particularly the farmers.
RM Membreve also acknowledged and thanked the role of the government officials and made special mention to Cong. Aumentado who according to him secured, lobbied and fought during the budget hearings of the Congress so that the budget proposal of NIA Region 7, especially in Bohol will not be decreased and instead be approved.
According to RM Membreve, the budget proposal of NIA Region 7 for the Bohol Irrigation Management Office will first be relayed in the Provincial Development Council meeting then to the Regional Development Council, then to the Department of Budget and Management to be consolidated into the National Expenditure Program and to be finally submitted to the Congress for budget deliberation and approval.
He further added that during budget hearings for NIA Region 7, he is always assured by the help and support of Cong. Aumentado who stood firm in fighting for its approval.
As final message, RM Membreve reminded the IA officers and members to take good care of the newly conveyed extension project so that more farmers and the future generations may also benefit from it.
On behalf the government officials present, Cong. Aumentado thanked the NIA Region 7 through the leadership of RM Membreve, who according to him was the person responsible together with his father the late Gov. Erico Aumentado for the construction of dams and other irrigation systems in Bohol.
“I am very happy that RM Mebreve has returned in this region because I am sure that he will do more projects that will help improve the production of farmers in Bohol” said Cong. Aumentado.
Cong. Aumentado made assurance to the farmers that even if the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) is not anymore allowed; he will still work hard by lobbying and requesting the National Agencies so that more projects beneficial to the farmers in Bohol particularly in his legislative district will be allocated.
For his part, IA president Victor O. Sanchez, Jr. expressed words of gratitude to the NIA Region 7 headed by RM Membreve for granting their request to extend the Bacani Irrigation System so that the farmers of Comaag may also benefit.
He made assurance that their association will take good care of the irrigation system because they need it in their livelihood. He also added that the IA officers of Bacani-Cotamaag will enact measures and policies that will help secure the care and maintenance of the extended communal irrigation system.
The Bacani Communal Irrigation System extension project will cater the ten hectares (10) hectares service areas of Bacani and Comaag that has one hundred sixty three (163) strong IA members.
The said project was undertaken through the force account works that amounted 2.5 million. It was supervised by Engr. Edilberto B. Evardo and Engr. Jessie B. Kibir as project in-charge and Ivy S. Alo as Institutional Development Officer from Bohol Irrigation Management Office.