Government fast-tracking projects to minimize El Niño impact

MANILA, Philippines —  The government is hastening the completion of projects to minimize the impact of the super El Niño, President Marcos assured the public yesterday as the climate phenomenon is expected to cause drought in many parts of the country until early next year.?

“But now, we are better prepared than we were in 2024. Our dams have higher water levels compared to the start of 2024,” he said during the inauguration of Tugbong Solar Pump Irrigation Project (SPIP) in Barangay Tugbong, Kananga, Leyte.??

He said the government is speeding up the construction of irrigation systems, water impounding facilities and water distribution networks to minimize the impact of prolonged dry spells on agricultural production and household water supply.

Water impounding projects and dams are also being developed to support fish production and generate hydroelectric power, the President added.?

The Tugbong SPIP, one of two solar-powered irrigation projects inaugurated in Leyte, will provide irrigation to 115 hectares of rice fields in Brgys. Tugbong and Sto. Niño in Kananga.?

The other facility, the Guintigui-an Solar Pump Irrigation Project in Ormoc City, will serve 70 hectares of farmland and benefit 87 farmers.?

Marcos said solar-powered irrigation would help farmers save about P20,000 in diesel costs and could increase their planting cycles from two to three per year.?

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is distributing smaller solar-powered water pumps to farmers to further reduce irrigation costs, he said.?

The administration has established around 3,000 solar pump irrigation systems nationwide as part of its efforts to modernize agriculture and improve farmers’ productivity.

The President said irrigation facilities now cover approximately 70 percent of the country’s agricultural land suitable for irrigation.?

TONAY Solar Irrigators Association Inc., with 66 farmer-members, will operate and maintain the Tugbong SPIP.?

State of calamity

Agriculture chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. threw his support behind a proposed declaration of a state of calamity, in order to quickly mobilize government resources.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, chair of the committee on agriculture, called for a proactive government response to mounting agricultural damage across five regions.

“I do agree that it is good to declare [a state of calamity] because from all indications it’s a super El Niño,” the DA secretary said, citing forecastsand assessments by climate experts.

For its part, the Department of Health assured the public its hospitals are ready for a worsening El Niño as DOH Assistant Secretary Tagumpay Maniquis said hospitals have no issues on energy and water. – Josiah Antonio, Rhodina Villanueva, Christine Boton