NIA XI Turns Over Two IA Buildings in Davao de Oro 

Engr. Rona B. Presto hands over the ceremonial ribbon to NIAM President Pedro A. Labay during the IA building turnover ceremony.  

By: Engr. Ryan R. Neri, Engineer A  - April 1, 2026

Montevista, Davao de Oro - The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region XI, through its Davao de Oro Irrigation Management Office (Davao de Oro IMO), turned over two Irrigators Association (IA) buildings to the New Visayas Irrigators Association of Montevista (NIAM), Inc. and the United Farmers Irrigators Association of San Jose Montevista (UFIASJM), Inc. during a blessing and turnover ceremony held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

The ceremony marked the formal transfer of the facilities to the recipient associations, which are expected to manage and maintain the buildings for their respective members.

IA members and Davao de Oro IMO personnel join the blessing ceremony of the NIAM IA building.

Activities began with the blessing of the said structures in Barangays New Visayas and San Jose, followed by a joint program at the UFIASJM IA Building. Engr. Rona B. Presto, Davao de Oro IMO Division Manager, led the activity along with technical personnel from the said field office. Local leaders, IA officials and members, and other stakeholders were also present during the event.

Hon. Noel E. Molijon (left most, front) joins Engr. Rona B. Presto (right most, front) in the ribbon cutting ceremony as they formally turn over the facility to UFIASJM President Alex S. Sobrevilla (second from left, front row) and Vice President Felipe Lavares (in blue shirt). 

Division Manager Presto emphasized the importance of the newly turned over buildings in strengthening IA operations and enhancing coordination among members and stakeholders. "We hope that this project will serve as an instrument for the development and strengthening of your respective associations and open opportunities in agriculture for local farmers," Presto said.

Currently, NIAM and UFIASJM, associations to be served by the ongoing Manat National Irrigation Project (NIP), have 113 and 224 farmer beneficiaries, respectively, with their new IA buildings ready to support their organizational operations and services to members.

Engr. Presto delivers her message of support to farmers of NIAM and UFIASJM.

In an interview, NIAM President Pedro A. Labay stated his gratitude to Davao de Oro IMO for the newly turned over facility and expressed hope for the soon completion of the irrigation project in their barangay. "I am grateful to NIA for turning over the building and covering all the expenses. I also thank the NIA Davao de Oro IMO, especially Ma'am Rona Presto and her staff. We have long been waiting for the irrigation project in our barangay, and I hope it will soon become operational, as this has been our long-standing aspiration," Labay said.

The Manat NIP, now on its final year of implementation, is targeted for completion in CY 2026 and will serve 788.41 hectares of new rice fields in the province.