By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

Committed to accelerate agricultural development, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has partnered with Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) to improve irrigation systems in Ilocos Norte. 

This partnership was forged through a memorandum of understanding signed by NIA Administrator Benny D. Antiporda and University President Shirley C. Agrupis during the NIA-Irrigators Association (IA) Congress held at the MMSU Teatro Ilocandia today, October 13.

In the five-year MOU, MMSU and NIA will study all available water resources in the country for irrigation purposes in Ilocos Norte; construct multiple-purpose water resources projects for irrigation within MMSU campus; and improve the irrigation and appurtenant structures in the MMSU’s 26-hectare Coordinated Agribusiness, Research and Extension Strategies (CARES) program farm.   

Both also agreed to exchange irrigation-related information, publications, and materials. They will also organize joint conferences, symposia and other avenues for knowledge-sharing. 

Administrator Antiporda assured NIA will extend full support to improve the irrigation system of MMSU to advance agricultural education, research, extension and production in the university. 

President Agrupis thanked NIA for partnering with MMSU and choosing the university as venue of the NIA-IA congress. Anticipating for a successful partnership, PSCA said NIA will be a great help in enabling CARES program to showcase smart farming in the province. 

Launched in 2019, CARES aims to share the latest production technologies developed by the university, and properly address the ever-increasing number of farmers cultivating the farms.

Hosted by MMSU, the NIA-IA Congress was attended by Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, Atty. David Levy Agcaoili, representative to Ilocos Norte Representative Angelo Marcos Barba, National Confederation of Irrigators Association President Remy Albano, Regional Confederation of Irrigators Association President Mr. Volaire Cave, NIA Region I Manager Engr. Gaudencio De Vera, Ilocos Norte IMO Manager Engr. Weynard Untalan, Irrigators Associations in Region I, and partner agencies from different government sectors and other stakeholders. 

With the theme “Strengthening Convergence and Partnership in Fostering Excellence in Irrigation Service,” the event served as avenue for collaboration among stakeholders in pushing sustainable agricultural development and rice self-sufficiency – a thrust of the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. who is also the concurrent secretary of agriculture. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)