Marcos: Solar irrigation in Cagayan to cut monthly costs by P300,000

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the new solar pump irrigation project (SPIP) in Pamplona, Cagayan, could reduce monthly irrigation costs from P400,000 to as low as P50,000.

Marcos made the remarks during the inauguration of the Pamplona SPIP in Barangay Gattu, which is designed to irrigate 602 hectares of farmland and benefit 307 farmers.

READ: Marcos: Gov’t expanding use of solar-powered irrigation

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The facility is equipped with three 50-horsepower solar-powered submersible pumps, a photovoltaic system with 384 solar panels, and other operational equipment.

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“Dati, P300,000 to P400,000 ang buwanang gastos sa paggamit na traditional na irigasyon,” the President said in his speech.

(Previously, the monthly cost of operating a traditional irrigation system was P300,000 to P400,000.)

He says, “Dito sa solar powered, P50,000 to P100,000—makatipid tayo P250,000/P300,000 kada buwan. Imbis na gagastos kayo sa krudo ay magagamit ninyo ‘yung perang ‘yun para sa sarili ninyo, makapag-savings kayo.”

(With solar-powered irrigation, the cost is P50,000 to P100,000, allowing us to save P250,000 to P300,000 a month. Instead of spending money on fuel, you can use that money for yourselves and set some aside as savings.)

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Since 2022, the government has established a total of 3,000 SPIPs nationwide, Marcos said, adding that these projects could help farmers prepare for Super El Niño.

“Mabuti na lang at nasimulaan na natin ang pagtayo ng solar power irrigation system na ganito at ang mga iba’t ibang irrigation system na ating nagawa. Dahil dumating na, parating na, at nandito na—dito sa atin sa norte, nandito na ang El Niño. Ramdam na ramdam na, nakadalawang buwan na siguro tayo,” he said.

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(Mabuti na lang at nasimulan na natin ang pagtatayo ng mga ganitong solar-powered irrigation systems, pati na ang iba pang irrigation systems na naitayo natin. Dahil dumating na, parating na, at nandito na—dito sa atin sa Norte, nandito na ang El Niño. Ramdam na ramdam na, nakadalawang buwan na siguro tayo.)

Marcos said solar-powered irrigation projects have also been established in Cabaroan, Quirino, Claveria, and Ballesteros, aside from the Pamplona project.

“Kaya patuloy po ang aming lahat ng ginagawa, asahan po ninyo na inyong pamahalaan ay nandito upang gawin ang lahat na maaaring gawin upang pagandahin ang hanapbuhay ng ating mga nagsasakripisyo, mga mannalon [magsasaka] nating mga nagsasakripisyo na lahat na naghahanda para sa El Niño na parating, asahan ninyo nandito po kami,” he said.

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(We will continue our efforts, and you can count on your government to do everything it can to improve the livelihoods of our hardworking farmers, who are preparing for the coming El Niño. You can count on us to be here for you.) /jpv