PBBM Inspects Solar-Powered Irrigation Projects (SPIPs) in Camarines Sur

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CAMARINES SUR — In line with the administration’s push for sustainable agriculture, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. visited and inspected two Solar-Powered Irrigation Projects (SPIPs) in Camarines Sur, with a combined project cost of over P332 million and set to benefit 1,854 farmers in the province.

The initiative supports the vision of Pres. Marcos, Jr. to strengthen food security and modernize the agriculture sector through innovative and climate-resilient technologies.

The projects include the Solar Pump Irrigation Project of the San Agustin-San Ramon Agrarian Reform Farmers’ Cooperative (SARFC) in Bula, with a project cost of P126.73 million, and the New MASSBA Solar Pump Irrigation Project (Phase I) in Minalabac, amounting to P205.46 million.

Funded under the Establishment of Groundwater Pump Irrigation Project (EGPIP) Solar CY 2024, the combined projects cover more than 1,800 hectares of farmland.

For years, SARFC incurred monthly electricity expenses ranging from P300,000 to P450,000 to operate irrigation pumps. With the transition to solar energy, electricity costs have significantly decreased, eventually dropping to zero, allowing farmer-members to save more and improve their income.

Meanwhile, the New MASSBA Multi-Purpose Cooperative, which previously faced recurring power disconnections due to longstanding unpaid electricity obligations, now benefits from a reliable and uninterrupted irrigation system. The solar-powered facility ensures continuous water supply while eliminating electricity-related expenses for its members.

NIA Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen highlighted that the rollout of solar-powered irrigation systems remains a key strategy of the agency to reduce farming costs, increase productivity, and promote sustainable development in rural communities.

With the completion of these projects, NIA reaffirms its role in advancing agricultural modernization, thus, empowering farmers, improving livelihoods, and contributing to the country’s long-term food security goals.

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