Farmers in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, tilling a 300-hectare service area, are benefitting from the newly upgraded Blucon-Albatana Communal Irrigation System (CIS).

In an interview Friday, National Irrigation Administration–Davao del Sur Irrigation Management Office (NIA DDS-IMO) division manager Dexter Tinapay said the upgraded CIS, now managed by Albatana Blucon Malabos CI Association Inc., enhances water regulation and provides more efficient irrigation services to support agriculture and sustainable farming.

Funded under the Repair-CIS 2025 program, the project involved replacing the sluice gate and retrofitting the existing sluice gate shelter.

“Our direction must be firmly rooted in collaboration and cooperation to ensure the economic productivity and long-term viability of our farmers’ livelihoods,” Tinapay said.

He urged the irrigators’ association to prioritize infrastructure maintenance, particularly through diligent desilting and proactive care during the off-season, to ensure the system’s longevity.

Danilo Omagtang, president of the Albatana Blucon Malabos CI Association Inc., thanked NIA for the project they received last month, highlighting its importance to their farming activities and overall livelihood.

“We are deeply grateful for this project, and we understand that NIA-Davao del Sur IMO manages a vast scope of initiatives across the province. To be prioritized among so many IAs is a privilege we do not take lightly,” Omagtang said in an interview facilitated by NIA-Davao Region.

Tinapay noted that these initiatives bolster NIA’s mission to promote sustainable farming and enhance the resilience of local farming communities across the region. (PNA)