A total of 4,560 farmers from four provinces in Bicol will benefit from 71 solar irrigation projects that are being implemented in the region, the National Irrigation Administration in Bicol (NIA-5) chief said on Wednesday.

In a press conference at Hotel Venezia here, NIA-Bicol General Manager Gaudencio de Vera said the solar projects worth PHP1.5 billion are spread over a total of 1,810 hectares in Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte.

“The priority areas for the project are the rain-fed areas or those areas with no existing irrigation. With the implementation of this project, available water during the dry season will be expected. Farmers can now plant palay during rainy days and corn or other crops during dry season months,” he said.

De Vera said NIA is implementing the projects with funds from Ako Bicol (AKB) Party-List Representative and House Committee on Appropriations chair, Elizaldy Co.

“We are very thankful for the assistance given to us by AKB Rep. Elizaldy Co. He loves the farmers so much that he gives us additional funds specifically for the solar irrigation projects. Nakita niya na maganda ng solar, kaya sabi nya bakit hindi natin i-adopt for Bicol (He saw that solar is good, so he said why don’t we adopt it for Bicol),” he said.

De Vera said they are targeting at least 60 percent of the 71 sites to be completed by the end of 2024.

“We already identified some 15 sites, meron na tayong lima na umpisahan, the rest sabay-sabay na gagawin. By December, we are expecting madami ng matapos para magamit na next year and mas makapagtanim ang ating mga farmers (We have already identified some 15 sites, we have five already started, and the rest will be constructed at the same time. By December, we are expecting many to be finished so that they can be used by our farmers next year),” he added.

De Vera said an estimated PHP140 million will be added to the income of farmers once the solar projects become operational.

Co, for his part, said the government is doing its best to reduce inflation and make the country rice self-sufficient by providing programs and projects to help the farmers.

“I’m sure before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. steps down, rice self-sufficient tayo. Ngayon pa lang na achieve na yung PHP29 per kilo na bigas, how much more pag nagawa na ang mga infrastructure, pag nagkaroon tayo ng solar fistigate, double ang production, nag triple cropping ka mas mapababa pa ang kilo (I’m sure before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. steps down, we will be rice self-sufficient. Now that we have achieved PHP29 per kilo of rice, how much more when the infrastructure is done, when we have solar fertigation, production is doubled, triple cropping will lower the price per kilo even more),” the lawmaker said.

He said Congress has prioritized budgets in line with the legacy of the Marcos administration on food security, hospitals, housing, and social services. (PNA)