PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) — The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) National Soil Health Program, has officially started the construction of two soil laboratories and the installation of a mobile soil laboratory in Palawan.
On March 6, 2025, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between the DA and the three local government units in Palawan where the project will be established. The ceremony also included the groundbreaking for the new soil laboratory.
The DA has chosen the towns of Brooke’s Point and Rizal as the sites for the permanent soil testing laboratories, while a mobile soil laboratory will be set up in the municipality of Aborlan.
The initiative was first announced by DA Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Alvin John F. Balagbag during the 2024 Farmers and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) National Cluster Summit in Puerto Princesa city.
According to the DA, the soil laboratories will provide essential data on the types of fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds best suited for local soil conditions, ultimately boosting agricultural productivity.
With the soil laboratories in place, farmers will gain quick access to necessary information about their land, ensuring they use the right farm inputs for optimal results.
The DA added that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. has been a strong proponent of establishing soil laboratories across the regions, which has made this project a reality.
The MOA was signed by DA Undersecretary for Operations, Engineer Roger V. Navarro, who represented Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., DA-BSWM Director Gina Nilo, and DA-BSWM Assistant Director Denise A. Solano. Local government leaders including Rizal mayor Norman S. Ong, Brooke’s Point mayor Cesareo R. Benedito Jr., and Aborlan mayor Jaime M. Ortega also signed the agreement. Palawan 1st District Representative Jose C. Alvarez was also present during the signing. (OCJ/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan/Photos from Brooke’s Point and Rizal MIOs)
