LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, July 22 (PIA) – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Ilocos led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a solar-powered irrigation system in Wawa village here.
 
Engr. Gaudencio De Vera,  officer-in-charge regional manager  of the NIA in Ilocos, said the project is the first of its kind in the town  and in the second district of the province.
 
“The construction of the solar-powered irrigation system is of great help to the residents of the included barangays, particularly the farmers and in the agricultural sector who are members of the Fisherfolk-Farmers and Irrigators Association,” De Vera said.
 
The project aims to further improve the town's agricultural production and  to address farmers’ problem of severe drought in summer, especially the El Niño phenomenon.
 
Aside from being environment-friendly, it will also help to further increase the production of crops which will eventually increase the income of farmers, De Vera added.
 
NIA has allocated P18 million for the said project which will potentially benefit the barangays of Wawa, Aliwekwek, Lasip and other nearby barangays.
 
It is estimated that the irrigation project will cover 30 hectares of service area or farms.
 
For his part, Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil was gratified to learn that the town he leads is one of the first in district two to benefit from the project.
 
He  added that he has personally seen the advantages and how ecological the solar-powered irrigation systems are in Camarines Sur and Davao.
 
The local government of Lingayen will oversee the upkeep of the project once the facility is completed.
 
It is also expected that the local government will hold free training sessions and share more knowledge regarding its use. (JCR/AMB/RPM/PIA Pangasinan)