Marcos Jr. Visits P332M Solar Irrigation Projects in Camarines Sur

MINALABAC, Camarines Sur — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Inspected over ₱332 million in solar-powered irrigation projects in Camarines Sur on Monday, aiming to bolster food security and modernize the agricultural sector in the region. The projects, located in the municipalities of Minalabac and Bula, are expected to irrigate 1,807.85 hectares of riceland and benefit approximately 1,800 farmers.

The initiative, undertaken by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), aligns with President Marcos Jr.’s vision for a more resilient and productive agricultural landscape, according to NIA Bicol regional director Gaudencio De Vera.

In Minalabac, the New Massba multipurpose cooperative will receive the installation of 900 solar panels (600 kilowatts) and inverters for four 200-horsepower pumps and motors, totaling ₱205,465,476.34. Construction began in November 2024 and concluded in December 2025. The cooperative, comprised of 1,132 farmer-beneficiaries, will utilize the system to irrigate 1,255.85 hectares of farmland.

Jesus Salceda Frivaldos, chairman of the New Massba MPC, highlighted the project’s potential to alleviate long-standing financial burdens. “Before, we were paying more than half a million [pesos] for energy consumption, but with the support of solar-powered irrigation projects of the National Irrigation Administration, today we are just paying more than ₱200,000,” Frivaldos stated. He further noted the historical significance of the original irrigation system, established 44 years ago during the administration of his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

The cooperative had previously struggled with an outstanding balance of approximately ₱10 million with the Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative II, leading to frequent electricity disconnections. The solar-powered system is projected to significantly reduce operational costs, previously equivalent to eight cavans of unmilled rice per hectare per cropping season.

The new pump irrigation system will serve 634.17 hectares within the cooperative’s 1,255.85-hectare service area, benefiting 1,097 farmers. The project falls under NIA’s 2024 Establishment of Groundwater Pump Irrigation Project.

In Bula, the San Agustin and San Ramon Agrarian Reform Farmers’ Cooperative (SARFC) will benefit from a similar installation of 900 solar panels and two 200-horsepower inverters, costing ₱126,732,933.63. This project, completed in August 2025 after beginning in October 2024, will irrigate approximately 552 hectares of farmland and support 722 farmer beneficiaries.

SARFC had historically paid between ₱300,000 and ₱400,000 monthly for electricity to operate two pump engines. The transition to solar energy has already yielded substantial savings, with electricity expenses decreasing from around ₱300,000 to just ₱7,665 in September 2025, and eventually reaching zero in subsequent months. Previously, the cooperative collected 12 cavans of palay per hectare from its farmer-members to cover electricity costs.

The solar panels, installed beside the San Ramon Pump Irrigation System Canal, are expected to maintain 25 years of efficiency, producing 670 watts of electricity. NIA Administrator Eduardo Eddie Guillen emphasized that solar-powered irrigation is a key strategy for lowering production costs and enhancing agricultural productivity nationwide.