Farmers in Pangasinan were thankful to the national government for the upcoming Paitan Dam project in Sta. Maria town and the recent distribution of agricultural inputs and machinery, which they said would significantly boost productivity and reduce farming costs.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally led the groundbreaking of the Paitan Dam, also known as the Lower Agno River Irrigation System (LARIS), on Friday, along with the distribution of solar-powered water pumps, corn seeds, and other farm support.
Celedonio Lopez, 69, of Tayug town, Pangasinan, said the solar-powered water pump their group received would greatly help irrigate their rain-fed farmlands.
“It is a huge help as it will serve as an additional source of water for us farmers,” he said, citing that most of the lands depend on rainfall.
Anacel Boday, 45, of Alcala town, welcomed the free corn seeds as these would enable them to cut some costs for the next cropping season.
“Marami po kasing disaster nung nakaraan kaya itong libreng corn seeds ay malaking tulong para makabawas sa gastusin para sa susunod na pagtatanim. Ang bayan ng Alcala po ay nagpapasalamat sa mga assistance na ibinibigay (There were many disasters last year thus the free corn seeds will be of great help to reduce the costs for our next cropping. The town of Alcala thanks the President for the assistance),” she said.
Juanita Sumara, 63, of the Balon Malioer Farmers Association in Bayambang town, Pangasinan, thanked the national government for the hybrid corn seeds and high-value vegetable seeds they received.
“Ramdam po namin ang inyong pagmamahal (We feel your love),” she said addressing it to the President.
Governor Ramon Guico III underscored the importance of the irrigation project in improving agricultural productivity in the province.
Guico III said the province is fortunate to be chosen as a beneficiary of the LARIS in Sta. Maria town.
“Irrigation plays a crucial role in increasing crop yield and enabling more land to be cultivated. We’re grateful that Pangasinan was chosen to benefit from this vital project,” he said.
LARIS is a joint initiative of the Department of Agrarian Reform and the National Irrigation Administration.
It aims to irrigate approximately 12,041 hectares of farmland, supporting 56 irrigators’ associations and benefiting nearly 12,000 farmers.
The irrigation system will serve multiple towns in Pangasinan, including Rosales, Sto. Tomas, Alcala, Bautista, Bayambang, and San Manuel, as well as municipalities in nearby Tarlac and Nueva Ecija.
Marcos also led the turnover of PHP83.4 million worth of farm machinery, equipment, and inputs to 7,645 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and 292 ARB organizations in Pangasinan.
The government said the efforts are part of a broader push to modernize agriculture, ensure food security, and improve farmers’ livelihoods.