DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) -- Over 600 units of diesel water pumps have recently been distributed by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Pangasinan Irrigation Management Office (PIMO) across the province, providing crucial support to farmers facing irrigation challenges worsened by El Niño.

In an interview, Engr. John Molano, Acting Division Manager of PIMO, said the water pumps were allocated to various irrigators' associations across Pangasinan's six districts, covering a total of 65,611.52 hectares of farmland.

Cesar Boquiren, president of Bugallon Cabigaan Irrigators Association and Federation President of Dumuloc River Irrigation System (RIS), expressed gratitude to NIA for their support.

"We are thankful to NIA for providing us with water pumps, which are already being utilized by farmers to irrigate their rice crops," said Boquiren. 

Additionally, Molano said NIA is implementing a solar power irrigation project in nine towns, including Aguilar, Mangaldan, Dasol, Malasiqui, Manaoag, San Jacinto, Rosales, Binalonan, and Umingan, with each solar pump capable of irrigating 5-20 hectares of farmland.

Furthermore, progress is underway on the Dumuloc Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) in Cayanga, Bugallon, Pangasinan, which is currently at 48 percent completion since its commencement in 2018. The project aims to complete the earthfill dam reservoir by April, allowing water storage in anticipation of the rainy season starting in June.

“This initiative will benefit 1,484 farmers across nine barangays by providing irrigation to 1,632 hectares of farmland, offering a sustainable solution to the region's irrigation needs,” Molano said.

The completion of these projects underscores NIA's commitment to empowering local farmers and ensuring agricultural sustainability in Pangasinan. (JCR/MJTAB/RPM/APG/PIA Pangasinan)