Farmers, irrigators thank Romualdez for irrigation project
FARMERS and irrigators in the country thanked House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for his continued support to important irrigation projects, including solar-powered pump irrigation projects (SPIPs).
They expressed their gratitude to Speaker Romualdez by sharing information on its benefits that have had big impacts on their lives during the National Congress of Irrigators’ Associations recently held at the Canyon Woods Resort in Batangas.
At the said event, Speaker Romualdez guaranteed Congress’ continued support to expand the irrigation projects, that are in line with the goal of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to improve the agricultural production and ensure food security.
In the testimony of Rizalinda Cagalawan, a farmer-irrigator from Misamis Oriental, said that the irrigation project brought a big change in their lives.
“With this irrigation project in Balingasag, water was made readily available, and our livelihood has greatly improved,” she said.
While Teresita Chua, president of the Lumayang Irrigators Association Inc. in Zamboanga City, also attested about the positive changes: “We are very grateful because our lives have improved. We are no longer tired (of having to fetch water far somewhere else), especially us senior farmer-irrigators.”
National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eduardo ‘Eddie’ Guillen also relayed the gratitude of the farmers for the support shown by Congress headed by Speaker Romualdez.
“Thank you, Speaker Romualdez, for your unwavering support to NIA and our hardworking farmers,” said Guillen. “Your commitment uplifts our agency and the lives of countless rural communities who rely on irrigation and agriculture for their future.”
In his message to the irrigators and farmers, Speaker Romualdez stressed on the promise of Congress to provide sufficient funds for these projects.
He mentioned that House of Representatives opposed proposals to reduce the 2025 NIA budget from the Senate, that is why the agency received a P69.4 billion fund, which was a big jump compared from the original allocation.
“Hindi na po kailangang ipaliwanag pa kung gaano kahalaga ang papel ng patubig sa buhay ng magsasaka. Kung walang patubig, walang ani. Kung walang ani, walang pagkain sa hapag ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” said Speaker Romualdez.
Putting up SPIPs is part of the plan of the administration of Marcos to improve the irrigation system in the country and to strengthen the agricultural sector.
Guillen mentioned that the SPIP is cost effective, that would require between P200,000 to P300,000 to be able to provide water for every hectare, compared to the P1.2 million needed for the traditional system, it could also be immediately implemented.
Guillen also said that the project also has benefits to the environment, especially if the planned solar irrigation that would support the advocacy of renewable energy and help address the issue on Climate Change.
The SPIPs would be useful in remote farmlands that are difficult to reach using traditional irrigation system, especially during the dry season such as the El Niño, while the farmers are reducing their operational cost by not relying on diesel and gasoline pumps.
