KANANGA, LEYTE — Highlighting improved water reserves and aggressive infrastructure development, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public on Friday, October 23, that the Philippines is in a far stronger position to handle the El Niño phenomenon compared to previous dry spells.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Tugbong Solar Pump Irrigation Project in Kananga, Leyte, the President emphasized that the government has established robust measures to avert water supply shortages and assist farmers amid looming dry conditions.
Drawing comparisons to the severe dry spell two years prior, the Chief Executive noted the significant progress achieved in national water management.
”Sa ngayon ay maaari kong i-report sa inyo lahat na kung maalala ninyo, nung tagtuyot ng 2024, mabigat din nun dahil wala tayo nakikita ng ulan ng siyam na buwan, walang ulan dito sa Pilipinas,” Marcos said.
”Ngunit ngayon, mas handa na tayo kaysa noong 2024. Ang ating mga, yung mga dam natin, mas mataas ang tubig kaysa sa nung nag-umpisa yung 2024,” Marcos added.
According to the President, current water levels across local dams are significantly higher than when the severe drought began in 2024. To sustain agricultural productivity, the administration is fast-tracking the construction of solar-powered irrigation facilities nationwide to provide farmers with a reliable and cost-efficient water source against rising fuel expenses.
Marcos explained that stable irrigation systems allow farmers to increase their seasonal crop cycles from two to three times a year, directly boosting their overall yields and incomes.
He noted that the administration is also building multi-purpose water impounding facilities and dams that support secondary industries like aquaculture and clean energy.
”At itong ginagawa natin sa ibang lugar, pagka dam naman ang tinatayo natin, hindi lang para ipunin ang tubig, ito nilalagyan pa ng isda yung iba, pagka bumaba na yung tubig, pag ginamit natin yung tubig, saka mangingisda bigla at kukunin natin yung isda para magamit din,” he stated.
The newly launched Tugbong Solar Pump Irrigation Project is designed to irrigate 115 hectares of agricultural land across Barangays Tugbong and Sto. Niño in Kananga. Meanwhile, a second facility—the Guintigui-an Solar Pump Irrigation Project in Ormoc City—will service 70 hectares of farmland for 87 local farmers.
The shift to renewable solar energy is projected to save farmers roughly ₱20,000 in monthly diesel expenditures, freeing up funds for household needs and agricultural inputs.
The Department of Agriculture is currently rolling out smaller portable solar pumps as part of a broader push that has already established roughly 3,000 solar irrigation systems nationwide, expanding total coverage to about 70% of irrigable lands.
Reiterating his administration’s commitment to modernizing the agriculture sector, President Marcos concluded that infrastructure expansion remains a core priority.
“The government is also speeding up the construction of irrigation systems, water impounding facilities, and water distribution networks to minimize the impact of prolonged dry spells on agricultural production and household water supply,” he said.