New SPIPs to benefit farmers in Tanza, Magallanes
THE National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) “Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program-Irrigation Component” (CARP-IC) recently completed two solar pump irrigation projects (SPIPs) in Tanza and Magallanes, Cavite.
NIA Deputy Administrator Ralph Lauren Du and DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform) Undersecretary Atty. Milagros Isabel Cristobal led the turnover ceremony of Sitio Gugo Tres Cruces SPIP in Tanza, Cavite and Baliwag SPIP in Magallanes, Cavite on September 14.
The Tres Cruces SPIP is set to irrigate a total of 16 hectares of agricultural lands and will benefit a total of 24 farmers belonging to Tres Cruces Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers Association, Inc. while the Baliwag SPIP targets to irrigate a total of 16 hectares with 10 farmer-beneficiaries under Baliwag Farmers Association of Magallanes, Inc.
Both projects were funded under CARP-IC to aid Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs). The two irrigation projects kickstarted construction last March 2022 and were completed ahead of time in August 2022.
NIA IV-A Regional Manager Wilson Lopez highlights the importance of agriculture as a “driving force” of the economy. He said that the agency is keen to support the agriculture sector to address food sufficiency and food security.
“Isa po sa mahalagang salik ng ekonomiya and maunlad na agrikultura. Kaya naman kami sa NIA ay nagpupursige na mapalawak pa ang mga lupang sakahan sa bansa na maayos na napapatubigan,” he said.
DAR Usec. Atty. Cristobal, in her speech, challenged the farmer-beneficiaries and agrarian reform beneficiaries to use the irrigation project “wisely and efficiently”.
“Ang challenge ko po sa inyo, bukod sa pangalagaan natin ang proyektong patubig na ito ay ang paglago ng inyong samahan. May suporta na binigay na sa inyo ang gobyerno kaya asahan namin ang paglago ninyo bilang grupo kasabay na magandang ani at mataas na kita,” Atty. Cristobal said.
NIA Deputy Admin Lauren Du, of the Administrative and Finance Sector, extends his gratitude to the farmer-beneficiaries for their drive and cooperation towards the realization of the said projects.
“Sa atin pong mga magsasaka, maraming salamat sa inyong pakikipagtulungan upang maging matagumpay ito. Patuloy tayong magkapit-bisig sa pangangalaga dito nang sa gayon ay matagal po ang abutin ng solar pump na ito.”
The said activity is one of the “successful stories” of inter-agency coordination among various government agencies and institutions aiming to support Filipino farmers and the agriculture sector.
Present during the occasion were officials from NIA, DAR, DA (Department of Agriculture), and the local government units of Tanza and Magallanes Cavite.
