A farmers’ group in Camarines Sur town expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) solar-powered irrigation projects that will improve their rice production and reduce costs.

Marcos on Monday inspected the completed PHP332 million Solar-Powered Irrigation Projects for the San Agustin-San Ramon Agrarian Reform Cooperative (SARFC) in Bula and for the New Mataoroc, San Jose, Sagrada Familia, and Baliuag Viejo ( New MASSBA) multipurpose cooperative in Minalabac, all in Camarines Sur.

The solar-powered irrigation project started in November 2024 and was completed in December 2025.

Jesus Salceda Pribaldos, chairperson of the New MASSBA multipurpose cooperative, said the PHP205 million project will serve 1,255.85 hectares, cultivated by 1,132 farmers.

The project installed 900 solar panels (600 kW) and an inverter for 4×200 HP new pumps and motors.

“I am very grateful to our beloved President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and also to NIA administrator Eddie Guillin for the wonderful project that was given to us, this solar-powered irrigation project,” he said.

Pribaldos said the project will help farmers lower costly electric bills.

“The electricity costs reach half a million a month, so we persevered and finally solarized our area because the electricity bill for our irrigation system will be lower,” he said.

Pribaldos narrated that the solar-powered irrigation projects have begun increasing their harvest from 70 cavans to 90 cavans per hectare.

“Previously, one hectare only yielded 70 cavans per hectare, but the latest harvest has reached nearly 90 to 100 cavans per hectare through the continuous flow of this project. That is the big thing that we did with this project because we can help in the call for every Filipino to have enough food on the dining table,” he said.

He said prior to the solar pump irrigation project, they had accumulated an electric bill balance of PHP9.5 million over more than three decades, leading to repeated disconnections of the cooperative’s electricity supply.

In agreement with Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative II (CASURECO II), the cooperative will make semi-annual payments through December 2029.

Meanwhile, Weyne Misola, village chief of Sagrada Familia and member of the New MASSBA multipurpose cooperative, appreciated the government and the President for the solar-powered project in Minalabac, Camarines Sur.

“This project given to us by the President is a great help. Farmers will no longer have to cut off their crops due to a lack of irrigation, and our farmers will no longer suffer,” he said.

While in the area, Marcos also visited the solar-powered irrigation project for the San Agustin-San Ramon Agrarian Reform Farmers’ Cooperative in Barangay San Ramon, Bula, also in Camarines Sur.

The project also aims to boost crop yields, increase farmer incomes, and reduce production costs. (PNA)