(from left to right: Napo IA Pres. Virtudazo, Brgy. Capt. Acapulco, Engr. Espinosa-representative of Cong. Yap, Mr. Makinano-representative of Gov. Chatto, Regional Manager Membreve, and Engr. Loayon)
TABUAN GARCIA HERNANDEZ – On Wednesday, February 7, 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 NAPO Communal Irrigation System to its beneficiaries, the Napo Tabuan Irrigators Association Inc. of Barangay Napo, Garcia Bohol, headed by its president Tito G. Virtudazo.
The turnover ceremony began at around 9:30 in the morning which was attended by the NIA R7 personnel, IA officers, members and local government officials.
Engr. Modesto G. Membreve, the newly returned Regional Manager of Region NIA-R7, personally facilitated the turnover.
It was his first attended Communal Irrigation System project turnover ceremony since his return as head of NIA R7 last January 15, 2018.
In his turnover message, Manager Membreve told everyone how happy he is that finally, the IA members of Napo and Tabuan will continue to enjoy and benefit from the newly finished irrigation extension project which the NIA had done for the farmers. He also added that this successful project turnover was made possible through the efforts and collaboration of all the people present in the said affair.
He also told the IAs to take good care of the irrigation system because it will benefit not only the 103 irrigator’s association members but also their families.
“My request to all the members is for all of you to take good care of the CIS because even though it is designed to last for more than fifty years, it would still require your (referring to all IA members) sincere care and maintenance for it to last long.” said RM Membreve.
According to RM Membreve, more projects beneficial to the IAs of Napo and Tabuan will come in 2019 because he had already included and reported it in the latest Provincial Development Council Executive meeting held yesterday, February 6, 2017.
As a veteran engineer of the NIA and having served the agency for more than 40 years, RM Membreve reminded the IA members that they should not allow the dredging of sand and gravel one kilometer upstream and downstream from the mini dam. According to him, such activity will cause the destruction of the structures because it will cause erosion that will certainly cause the dam to collapse.
As final message, RM Membreve expressed how lucky and blessed the people of Napo and Tabuan are because out of all the farmers in region 7, they were one of the several few who were given priority projects because the government cannot afford to grant all together at the same time their requests due to limited funds.
Local officials present during the activity have also expressed their warmest thanks and commended the leadership of RM Membreve for a job well done in fulfilling the agency’s mandate of helping the farmers obtain higher cropping production. They also reiterated to the beneficiaries the importance of taking good care of the irrigation systems because it will benefit not only them, but also the future generations.
For his part, IA president Tito G. Virtudazo expressed his sincerest gratitude to NIA R7 headed by RM Membreve. He assured Membreve that he will spearhead the care and maintenance of the irrigation systems because as one of beneficiaries, it will boost his cropping production.
He also added that he will encourage the IA members to actively secure and monitor the IS to prevent any person from dredging sand and gravel along the mini dam.
“I assure sir Membreve and all the government officials here present that we will take good care of the irrigation systems the same way as we take good care of our wives.” said Virtudazo
The NAPO Communal Irrigation System extension project will cater the fifty three (53) hectares service areas of Barangay Tabuan that has one hundred three (103) strong IA members.
The said project was undertaken through the force account works that amounted 3 million. It was supervised by Engr. Bienvenido T. Seroje as project in-charge and Severo G. Caipang as Institutional Development Officer from Bohol Irrigation Management Office.