Rice farmers in Rufina M (RM) Tan village here are grateful to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for providing them with a solar irrigation project, the largest of its kind in Eastern Visayas.

During the President’s visit on Monday, local farmers personally thanked the Chief Executive, as the project will significantly reduce their rice production costs. With the completion of the project, they will no longer rely on diesel-powered motor pumps for irrigation, which cost them between PHP3,000 and PHP6,000 on fuel per cropping.

“This project will also enable us to plant three times a year instead of the traditional two cropping seasons, which means more income for us,” Ronilo Romero, president of the RM Tan Solar Pump Irrigators Association, said.

President Marcos inspected the PHP100 million RM Tan Solar Pump Irrigation Project (SPIP) in Ormoc City. Completed on Oct. 15, 2024, the SPIP is the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) largest solar pump irrigation project in Eastern Visayas, featuring seven units of 10 hp capacity solar-powered pumps across two sites.

The irrigation project will benefit 92 farmer-residents of RM Tan village, who cultivate 100 hectares of rice land.

In his speech at the Ormoc public plaza, Marcos said NIA built more than a hundred SPIPs nationwide.

“They are using the best of high technology, may satellite imaging, merong AI na ginagamit. It’s really impressive dahil napakaganda sa ani (They are using the best of high technology, there’s satellite imaging, they’re using AI [artificial intelligence]. It’s really impressive because it’s great for the harvest),” Marcos said.

The construction of SPIPs is part of NIA’s 7-Point Strategic Policy Agenda, specifically focusing on Climate-Smart Irrigation Systems. (PNA)