NIA inaugurates 1st CamSur rubber dam

By Nic Baraero

NIA Administrator Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya (Ret) inaugurated on Nov. 16 this year the first rubber dam in Camarines Sur located in Barangay Agos, Bato, Camarines Sur, which will irrigate 167 hectares of rice lands benefiting 120 farmers.

Aside from the P35-million Agos Rubber Dam, Visaya also inaugurated the newly rehabilitated P37.8-million South Quinale Rubber Dam in Oas and a newly completed P1-million drip irrigation system in Polangui, both in Albay.

Present during the Agos Rubber Dam were: CamSur 5th District Rep. Jocelyn Fortuno, Bato Mayor Frank B. Bernaldez and Agos Barangay Captain and IA President Ric S. Pontillas.

Also present during the event were: acting NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and and Finance Sector, Engr. Freddie M. Toquero; acting NIA Bicol Regional Manager Lauro E. Ballesteros; EOD chief Diogemma C. Rodriguez; AFD chief Joseph A. Rebadulla; CSIMO acting Manager Engr. Luis C. Bragais; CSIMO-RIIS chief Seema S. Gonzaga; NIA central and regional office officials and staff.

Fortuno, in her message, thanked NIA for the project and said that the dam is a potential agro-tourism site that could open opportunities to generate income not just for the farmers but as well as the village residents.

CAMARINES SUR FIRST RUBBER DAM NIA Administrator Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya (Ret) and Bato Mayor Frank B. Bernaldez (left and right of the marker) during the blessing and inauguration of the Agos Rubber Dam, the first of its kind in Camarines Sur. Others in photo are: NIA Bicol Director Lauro Ballesteros (4th from left), NIA Deputy Administrator Freddie Toquero (3rd from left) and other NIA central and regional officials. (Contributed by Nic Baraero)