BONTOC, Mountain Province (PIA) — Irrigators from Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Benguet, and Mountain Province recently converged for the 1st Cordillera Administrative Region Federation of Irrigators Associations, Inc. (CARFIA) Congress 2025 in this capital town.
With the theme, “Irrigators Association Kooperatiba: Daan para Guminhawa and Buhay ng mga Magsasaka”, they discussed and planned out how to be more productive and bring about improvement in the quality of life of the farmers.
Among the salient topics was the Farming Support Services Program (FSSP) or contract farming where irrigators’ associations are contracted through their cooperatives, and supported from farming to harvesting until marketing. Through this scheme, their rice produce are sold at select kadiwa stores at P29/kg in line with the affordable rice program of the government
Local officials underscored the importance of cooperation and active dialogues towards a more productive organization and irrigation system.
“By working together across provinces, we can achieve more effective results than if we act alone. By facing challenges with a strong sense of responsibility and teamwork helps strengthen our mechanisms, supports our network, and ultimately benefits every farmer and society as a whole,” Mountain Province Congressman Maximo Y. Dalog, Jr. said in his message delivered by Dionisio Wacdisen.
“As you conduct this regional congress, I am hopeful that your knowledge and expertise as irrigators will continue to flourish and heightened while fulfilling the theme. I trust that at the end, you will continue to be key players in nation building in the field of agriculture, at the same time exhibit the core values of leadership and social responsibility,” he said.
Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. acknowledged the importance of the event, noting that agriculture is the primary livelihood for most people in the province.
“If we talk of agriculture, irrigation is an important component. We need to enhance agricultural production so we need to connect our farms to water sources. We need to build dikes or canals along mountain slopes,” he said.
He highlighted the need for cooperation from the irrigators and emphasized their role in both planning and implementing irrigation projects to ensure that farmers receive the full benefits of the irrigation system.
Bontoc Mayor Jerome B. Tudlong, Jr also emphasized that through active dialogue and open forums, the voices of the farmers will be heard, and their concerns will be addressed.
“This collaborative approach is essential for paving the way toward a more prosperous and productive irrigation system. It is not only the convergence with other agencies that matters; it is equally important to foster the sharing of ideas and cooperation among federations, engaging not just with officers but with all members,” Tudlong remarked.
Adding vibrancy to the event held on Jan. 17 and 18 were the presentations from the Provincial Pattong Group and the Provincial Choral Group, and the Search for Mr. & Ms. CARFIA which was eventually won by Eli Fernandez of Kalinga and Ms. Virginia Echiverri of Apayao. (JDP/CGS-PIA CAR, Mountain Province with NIA CAR)
