Meeting of Minds! Solar Irrigation, Sabo Dams New NIA Chief’s Priorities

The establishment of Solar Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS) and construction of Japanese-designed Sabo Dams to hold water along small rivers and creeks are among the priority projects of the new head of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
Over dinner in Davao City last night, NIA Administrator Eddie Guillen shared with me a new paradigm in Agricultural Irrigation in the country, shifting from the traditional irrigation systems which take decades to finish to the quicker SPIS and Sabo Dams with diversion canals leading to rice production areas.
“Hindi na puede yong mga irrigation projects na dekada bago matapos,” Administrator Guilen said, a view which I wholeheartedly agreed with.
At the rate the country’s population is growing, at least 80,000 hectares of rice farms must be irrigated every year to produce enough rice.
Administrator Guillen fully understands the impact of the SPIS because when I was Secretary of Agriculture, his town, Piddig, Ilocos Norte, where he was Mayor, received four units of Solar Irrigation which immensely helped the farmers.
Piddig is also a model for the Sabo Dams built with the support of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency which hold water along shallow creeks and small rivers.
Hearing the new direction that NIA is taking under the Marcos Presidency, I gained confidence that the country’s program to produce enough rice for the people will be realized within the next five years.
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
(Photos of Sabo Dam and Solar Irrigation Systems were downloaded from public websites. Photos showing Adm. Guillen, Piddig Mayor Gina Guillen, NIA Region 11 Director Jimmy ApostolOutstanding OFW Arnel Corpuz and myself were taken last night in Davao City.)