President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has vowed to step up government efforts to improve farmers’ livelihoods as the country prepares for the possible effects of El Niño.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Pamplona Solar Pump Irrigation Project in Barangay Gattu, Pamplona, Cagayan, on Monday, Oct. 26, Marcos Jr. said the government would continue looking for ways to ease farmers’ burdens and improve agricultural productivity.
“Kaya patuloy po ang aming lahat ng ginagawa. Asahan po ninyo na ang inyong pamahalaan ay nandito upang gawin ang lahat ng maaaring gawin upang pagandahin ang hanapbuhay ng ating mga nagsasakripisyo,” he said.
The President said the government was expanding solar-powered irrigation systems to reduce farming expenses and provide a more reliable water supply as weather conditions become less predictable.
Marcos Jr. said about 3,000 solar-powered irrigation systems had been established nationwide since 2022.
He also cited the potential savings from switching to solar-powered systems, saying conventional fuel-dependent irrigation could cost P300,000 to P400,000 a month to operate, compared with P50,000 to P100,000 for solar-powered systems.
The Pamplona project is expected to serve more than 600 hectares of farmland, including an additional 100 hectares that previously had limited access to irrigation.
Marcos Jr. also suggested integrating fish production into irrigation facilities to give farmers an additional source of income.
He urged farmers to share other ideas that could help improve their livelihoods.
“Kung mayroon pa kayong naisip, kung mayroon kayong nakikita na maaari pang gawin, sabihan ninyo kami nang sa ganoon ay kami ay makakapag-responde at kung kayang gawin ng inyong pamahalaan, gagawin po namin,” according to him.IMT
