President Marcos inaugurates 2 irrigation projects

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday inaugurated two irrigation projects in northern Luzon, as the government moves to ease the impact of the super El Niño. 

Marcos visited Cagayan to inaugurate the Pamplona solar pump irrigation project, which is seen to benefit more than 300 farmers and enhance agricultural production across five barangays.

The project is implemented by the National Irrigation Administration through the East Apayao-Abulug Irrigation System. It is designed to provide farmers with a more reliable water supply, especially during dry periods. 

The facility, which has three 50-horsepower solar-powered submersible pumps supported by 384 solar panels, has a service area of 602.62 hectares. 

Climate is changing, so we have to adjust,” Marcos said. “We will continue what we are doing and you can be sure that the government will do what it can to improve the lives of the farmers who are sacrificing and who are preparing for the El Niño.”

Marcos also went to Ifugao to inaugurate the P1.49-billion Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation System, a project designed to expand irrigation coverage to 2,300 hectares of farmland and benefit more than 1,300 farmers. 

“Because we are feeling the effects of super El Niño, we are making sure that (the facilities) are working so that our farmers will have water sources during the dry periods,” Marcos said.