IIADP now the biggest employer in Ibayat
-From Congressinal Updates

Twenty people's organizations (Pos) in Itbayat had been awarded the contract to put up the aggregates needed for the Itbayat Integrated Area Development Program (IIADP) project.

This employment opportunity opened when Congressman Florencio B. Abad talked with the NIA to give production of aggregates to the Itbayat Pos instead of giving it to private contractors. Each PO has about 40 members, all employed by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in the IIADP. This makes the IIADP the biggest employer in Itbayat.

The IIADP budget was further increased with the approval of an additional P17 M for the project, which is expected to be complete by the summer of the year 2000. The IIADP is a comprehensive program to restore ecological and economic balance to Itbayat as well as to the entire province of Batanes.

One of the main objectives of the project is to stop the current destructive cycle of slash-and-burn farming by providing agricultural alternatives. The project also aims to restore a significant measure of the province's self-reliance in the production of staple food crops, and to raise income levels through a sustainable agricultural plan.

There are six major components of the IIADP. The irrigation Infrastructure includes the construction of a dam to impound water to support a communal irrigational system of some 120 hectares. The Sustainable Agricultural Plan will develop around 200 hectares of land for irrigation, 50 hectares for intensive livestock development, organic fertilizer production, and an experimental farm and post-harvest facilities. Watershed development involves the development of a road network within the IIADP site and a water system for Barangay Raele. The Enterprise Development component will develop various cottage industry, fish and meat preservation and marketing. A Comprehensive Development Plan that encompasses the entire municipality will serve as the development framework of the IIADP. And finally, the Social Infrastructure component will focus on building the capability of the community to manage and sustain the planned activities, the foundation upon which the entire IIADP rests.

The NIA has set up a field office in Raele, Itbayat, to ensure the successful implementation of the P65-M Itbayat irrigation project. NIA engineers have been assigned to the island to oversee the laying down of pipes around the irrigation project and supervise the formation of rice paddies.

The IIADP started with its pre-project activities in 1992 when US Peace Corps volunteer Rice Reece, together with some community leaders in Itbayat, saw the possibility of a full-blown irrigation project to boost agricultural production in Itbayat and for the entire province. Three foreign consultants were engage to prepare a pre-feasibility study. Based upon this work, the NIA undertook the formal project feasibility study and extended design services, finally taking over the project to completion.

According to Congressman Abad, the IIADP is so far the single biggest infrastructure investment ever made in the history of Batanes. While the project is situated on the island of Itbayat, Cong. Abad said the benefits will redound to the benefit of the whole province.