The Department of Agriculture (DA) is focusing its spending on irrigation projects as part of its agriculture roadmap to boost food production in the country.
“Ipo-focus natin ang ating spending…na hindi sabog at, of course, ang isang pinakamalaking kailangan natin na mag-invest is in irrigation,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel said in an interview over Malacañang Insider on Thursday.
Laurel noted that 1.2 million hectares of flat land are not irrigated. “So, less than 50 percent is irrigated and to increase production, we really need more irrigation.”
The DA chief also noted the government will also tap solar irrigation. “But, not only iyong usual irrigation ‘no. We will also do solar irrigation para mabilis ma-implement at maka-increase tayo ng hectarage.”
In addition to irrigation projects, the DA has also invested in dryers, silos, and rice mills to increase the “recovery” of the harvest of palay.
“Sa ngayon, ang recovery natin using old systems or drying sa kalye at sa mga ibang lugar, 50 percent lang na bigas ang nakukuha natin sa palay. Pero kung may mga drying systems tayo, puwedeng umakyat iyan up to 70 percent,” Laurel explained.
“So, may 15 hanggang 20 porsyento ang madadagdag sa ating buffer stock without increasing production, iyong mga ganoon ba at marami pang iba, oo,” he added.
Earlier this month, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. noted that the investment in the country’s irrigation infrastructure attests to his administration’s unwavering commitment to support the backbone of the economy — the agriculture sector.
“Through our re-fleeting program, we can instantly repair and build more irrigation facilities that were damaged by natural calamities, [and] stand strong against the challenges of shifting climate change,” the President said in his remarks during the turnover ceremony of various operations and maintenance equipment of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Mexico, Pampanga last week.
In the same event, the President witnessed the turnover of the second tranche of the operations and maintenance equipment under the NIA’s Three-Year Re-Fleeting Program, which is a realization of the commitment to the efficient and effective functioning of irrigation systems.
In December last year, a total of 141 units of excavators amounting to an estimated PhP776 million were distributed as part of the first tranche of equipment turned over to the 17 NIA regional offices.
The fleets are now being used for the rehabilitation, preventive maintenance, and repair of irrigation facilities.
During the event in Mexico, Pampanga, 148 units of heavy equipment were distributed, such as excavators, dump trucks, and truck-tractors with trailers to the NIA Regional Offices.
The President noted that by next year, the third tranche of equipment, amounting to around PhP1 billion, will be rolled out.
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), the President also expressed his commitment to build and rehabilitate more dams to boost agriculture production in the country.
“Patuloy tayong nagbubukas at nagkukumpuni ng mga irigasyon sa buong Pilipinas. Ngayong taon, bibigyan natin ng patubig ang halos apatnapu’t limang libong ektarya ng bagong lupain,” Marcos said.
“Bubuhayin din nating muli ang irigasyon sa halos tatlumpu’t walong libong ektarya ng lupain sa buong bansa,” he added.
President Marcos said the government is also focusing on constructing solar-powered irrigation facilities throughout the country such as the newly-launched Cabaruan Solar-Powered Pump Irrigation Project in Quirino, Isabela, the largest in the Philippines.
In his SONA, the President also mentioned the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project in Iloilo.
Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II (JRMP II), the largest water reservoir project in Iloilo, was inaugurated by the Chief Executive last July.
The project spans over 80 kilometers with a service area of 31,840 hectares and is expected to benefit around 25,000 farmers. PND
