Submitted by niaregion3 on
September 22, 2023
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NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen welcomed our top lawmakers at NIA Regional Office III, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan for the Presentation of Solar Pump Irrigation Projects. The event was graced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Honorable Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. He was joined by the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations Honorable Elizaldy C. Co, Deputy Majority Leader for Communications Honorable Erwin T. Tulfo, and ACT-CIS Party List Representative Honorable Edvic G. Yap. The delegation was warmly received by Bulacan’s 3rd District Representative Honorable Lorna C. Silverio, Vice Governor of the Province of Bulacan Honorable Alex C. Castro, Mayor of the Municipality of San Rafael Honorable Mark Cholo I. Violago, the Irrigators Associations of Angat-Maasim RIS, RCIA Vice President Nazario G. Vinuya, and NIA Region III Regional Manager and concurrent OIC Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operation Sector Engr. Josephine B. Salazar.
Engr. Salazar presented its pilot solar project in Sampaloc, San Rafael, Bulacan where the solar panels were installed on top of its irrigation canal. This project mitigated the impact of using agricultural lands for solar installation, thereby, providing more opportunities for our farmers to use their land for crops, and increase their income. Through this technology of combining solar panels, pumps, electronic controls for operation, concrete canals, water tanks, conveyance structures, and pump houses, a more cost-efficient system compared to fuel-powered pumps is made available for our farmers. Since the operation of the Kapatiran Solar Pump Irrigation System, more than half of the Annual Average Electrical Expenses was reduced. With the project’s success, it was replicated in two other sites – BUSPAN Solar Pump Irrigation System in Malamig, Bustos, Bulacan and ANBUSPA Solar Pump Irrigation System in Tibagan, Bustos, Bulacan. To add, she also took this opportunity to highlight NIA’s convergence initiatives in Dinalupihan, Bataan – the Drip Irrigation Project, which uses Fertigation, an Israeli Farm Technology in which fertilizers are incorporated in irrigation water through a drip system. The Joint Drip Irrigation Project of NIA and Bataan LGU consists of 10 Pilot Farms, 7 of which are funded by NIA, and three by the LGU of Dinalupihan, Bataan. It covers about 10 hectares of land area with various crops such as Carrots, Onions, String Beans, Pechay, Lettuce, Ampalaya, Eggplant, Chili, Tomato, Squash, and Watermelon.
NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Guillen is filled with gratitude that despite their busy schedule in the deliberations of the proposed national budget, Speaker Romualdez, and our lawmakers made room to visit the agency to meet the farmers and visit the site of Kapatiran Solar Pump Irrigation System. He added that this is a strong display of their support to our farmers, our agency’s programs and projects that will further improve irrigation development.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Honorable Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez recognized the role of the agency in achieving agricultural productivity. He expressed his appreciation that with the leadership of the NIA Acting Administrator and his Regional Managers, we are coming up with solar irrigation projects and new concepts. The Speaker added that these projects and concepts are worth adopting throughout the country.
After the ceremony, NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Guillen led the House Leader and the other lawmakers for the inspection of the Kapatiran Solar PIS in Brgy. Sampaloc, San Rafael, Bulacan where the farmer beneficiaries of the project were waiting. The Kapatiran IA voiced their gratefulness for this project which has positively impacted their income and operations in the association.