Peacemaker named NIA project manager of the year

The Muslim project manager of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project who has played peacemaker among feuding clans in strifetorn Mindanao has been adjudged project manager of the year by the National Irrigation Administration.

Noldin Oyod was conferred the prestigious award by NIA outgoing administrator Claro Maranan and senior deputy administrator Felix Razo during awarding ceremonies at the agency’s central office in Quezon City during its 51st anniversary celebration last Friday.

The Personnel Reward And Incentives System Evaluation (PRAISE) committee chaired by Razo cited Coloma for his performance as Casecnan manager.

The committee acted on the performance audit conducted by the five-man technical working group composed of representatives from various divisions in the NIA.

Oyod posted an accomplishment of 91.51 percent, getting 53.77 percent in project implementation alone.

Oyod has been involved as mediator in rido clashes among clans in Mindanao.

Rido refers to the sporadic outbursts of violence between families, relatives and communities. It is deemed one of the major problems in the island owing to casualties, devastation of properties and displacement of families.

The Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project in Northern Cotabato and Maguindanao started in 1989, and is designed to irrigate 19,601 hectares of agricultural lands in five towns in Central Mindanao covering the provinces of North Cotabato, Region 12, Maguindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. – Manny Galvez