SAN GABRIEL, La Union — Thirty hectares of farmland in Barangay Bucao, San Gabriel in La Union will have a more reliable water supply and lower irrigation costs, following the turnover of two solar-powered irrigation projects by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on Oct. 16, as farmers prepare for the threat of a Super El Niño.
The NIA-La Union Irrigation Management Office, led by Division Manager engineer Cynthia G. Panit, turned over the facilities to the BC Farmers’ Association under the Establishment of Groundwater Pump Irrigation Project. The project features artificial intelligence- and satellite-assisted monitoring and a fertigation system to improve water and fertilizer management.
Powered by solar energy, the facilities are expected to reduce farmers’ reliance on diesel- and gasoline-powered pumps, lowering operating expenses while helping sustain irrigation during dry spells. Association President Dexter Bacani thanked NIA, saying reliable water access would help members protect their crops amid drought risks. The association will manage and maintain the facilities.
Similar initiatives are underway elsewhere in the Ilocos Region. Earlier this month, NIA Region I turned over three solar-powered irrigation projects in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, covering 45 hectares. It also distributed solar-powered water pumps to irrigators’ associations in the province in September, while three project sites turned over in San Esteban, Ilocos Sur, in 2024 served 30 hectares and benefited 68 farmers.
NIA Region 1 Engineering and Operations Division Manager Emilio M. Domagas, Jr., San Gabriel Mayor Lany B. Carbonell, Bucao village chief Rowel P. Dacumos, and other local government and NIA officials attended the turnover.
Through solar-powered irrigation and partnerships with local governments, NIA aims to help farmers cut costs, protect crops, and sustain production despite worsening dry conditions. — Artemio A. Dumlao