Philippines Inaugurates PHP 98.6-Million Solar Irrigation Project

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 26, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos attended the inauguration ceremony of the solar-powered pumping irrigation project in Pamplona, Cagayan Province. With an investment of more than PHP 98.6 million, the project is implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) of the Philippines and is equipped with three 50-horsepower solar submersible pumps and 384 solar panels. It is designed to irrigate 602.62 hectares, covering five local villages and serving 307 farmers.

The project is implemented by the NIA's East Apayao-Abulug Irrigation System, with facilities located in Barangay Gattu, Pamplona, and service areas also covering barangays Capalalian, San Juan, Alasitan, and Casitan. The irrigation area includes approximately 100 hectares of farmland with restored water supply, mainly serving rice and other crop cultivation.

The project uses solar-powered pumping equipment integrated with existing irrigation canals. Operating cost data released by the Philippine Presidential Communications Office show that conventional irrigation systems cost approximately PHP 300,000 to 400,000 per month to operate, while the solar system is expected to reduce this to PHP 50,000 to 100,000. Some irrigation canals are also equipped with net-cage fish farming facilities for local farmers to engage in aquaculture.

The National Irrigation Administration conducted trial operations and on-site inspections of the Pamplona irrigation facilities in early June, testing the operating status of the pumping equipment and related systems. The formal inauguration ceremony held on October 26 marked the completion of the transition from trial operation of the equipment to the official commissioning of the project.