THE PROVINCE of Negros Occidental posts another milestone with the completion of the first-ever solar-powered irrigation system at a remote sitio in Barangay Bato, Hinigaran.
The project, which was instigated and funded by former Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, was continued and completed by now DA Secretary William Dar through the DA Regional Office 6 under Regional Executive Director Remelyn R. Recoter.
The P6 million irrigation project is powered by a set of solar panels which can efficiently propel the twin submerged pumps that have the initial capacity to irrigate a minimum of 70 hectares of farmlands.
The facility was constructed by Bacolod City-based R.U. Foundry and Machine Shop Corporation (RUFMSC) – the same company which completed the first and biggest solar-powered irrigation system in Luzon.
During the recent turnover ceremonies in Barangay Bato, no less than the office of Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, which was represented by Attorney Rhaegee Tamaña, graced the event, together with Recoter, Negros Occidental Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, Hinigaran Mayor Jose Nadie P. Arceo, Barangay Officials, Central Philippines State University President Dr. Aladino C. Moraca, RUFMSC Chairman of the Board Ramon Uy Sr., and of course, the beneficiaries of the project.
Masculino said irrigating the farmlands in Barangay Bato will now be very economical since the irrigation project is powered by solar energy, which in turn, will not add burden to the community.
“There is no operational cost because the energy to operate the pumps will be coming from the sun,” he pointed out.
Following the simple yet meaningful ceremonies, Masculino said the provincial government, under the leadership of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson, is slated to implement its own solar-powered irrigation systems in Himamaylan and Manapla.
According to Masculino, the provincial government-funded projects are now under the bidding process, and he is hopeful that these can be implemented in the soonest possible time to help the needy farmers.
While the Hinigaran solar irrigation system is meant to irrigate some 70 hectares in the remote barangay of Bato, it has the capacity to provide water to at least 30 hectares or more farmlands following the rationing system that was implemented by the farmer-beneficiaries in Llanera, Nueva Ecija who were recipients of the first solar-powered irrigation project in Luzon.
With the rationing system being utilized by the farmers in Llanera, the local farmers there are now able to develop and till more than one hundred hectares of farmlands, instead of the targeted 70-hectare capacity for the said project.
Also during the turnover ceremonies, most of the farmer-beneficiaries in Barangay Bato became emotional where some of them even shed their tears due to the realization of the much-needed irrigation project in their isolated area.
With the expected increased productivity of the farmers in Barangay Bato, they are optimistic that they would be able to humbly contribute to the provincial government’s food security agenda.
With this development, projects like this one should be replicated in other remote or isolated areas to help the marginalized farmers. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
