KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- The National Irrigation Administration - South Cotabato-Sarangani Irrigation Management Office turned over the management of 12 communal irrigation systems (CIS) in Polomolok, Tupi, Tantangan, Banga and Koronadal City to the Provincial Government of South Cotabato Friday, December 2. 

The handover ceremony, held in Koronadal City, transfers the supervision of the CISs to the provincial government as mandated by  Executive Order No. 138 s. 2021 or Full Devolution of Certain Functions of the Executive  Branch to Local Governments, Creation of a Committee on Devolution, and for other purposes, Engr. Teresita Pieldad, Engineering Operations Division manager of NIA 12, said. 

Engr. Pieldad emphasized, however, that although the supervision of the CISs are transferred to the local government unit, NIA will sustain its function of monitoring the irrigation systems. 

"NIA is mandated to monitor [the irrigation systems] even after your transfer to the LGUs, meaning, we will  have a tripartite partnership -- NIA, the LGUs and the IAs (irrigators associations)," she told the irrigators present in the event. 

The community irrigation systems devolved to the provincial government of South Cotabato include the Magsaysay-Polomolok CIS and Koronadal Proper CIS in Polomolok municipality; Basak-Ponoluning CIS and Bunao CIS in Tupi;  Siok CIS,  Supon CIS, and Cadidang CIS in Koronadal City; Luayan CIS and Tinongcop CIS in Tantangan; and Sao CIS, El Kek CIS, and Lamkot CIS in Banga. 

Data from NIA South Cotabato-Sarangani IMO indicated that these CISs have an aggregate firmed-up service area of 968.68 hectares of rice production area with at least 699 farmer-beneficiaries. 

Board Member Henry Ladot, chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and Agrarian Reform, received the transfer document on behalf of South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. 

Pieldad noted that the 12 CISs comprised the first communal irrigation systems in South Cotabato and Soccskargen Region to be devolved to local government units.  

"This year, in Region 12, we are devolving 72 CISs [to local government units]" she added. 

Region 12 or Soccsksargen Region covers the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani and the cities of Koronadal, General Santos, Tacurong, and Kidapawan. (PIA XII)