He Laughs Last! First Solar Irrigation Unit Lifts Poor Farmer’s Life

Seven years ago, when old man Antonio Jugos allowed the Dept of Agriculture to establish an experimental unit of the Solar-Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) in his farm beside a small lake in New Janiuay, Mlang, North Cotabato, many of his neighbors laughed at him.
Things changed a bit when Pres. Rodrigo Duterte arrived in his farm on Feb. 4, 2017 to launch the first SPIS.
Everybody in the village joined him in welcoming the President and shared the glory of their village being featured in the national media.
But when the SPIS unit faced technical difficulties, the toxic crab mentality fueled by political motives surfaced again.
In fact, it was the Barangay Captain and the Council of New Janiuay who signed a petition asking Pres. Duterte to conduct a probe on the project.
I was actually the target of that political move but Antonio Jugos was the victim as he was villified.
When I learned of the technical problems of the New Janiuay SPIS, I directed the DA Regional Office to undertake corrective measures.
Today, the SPIS which is now virtually owned by Antonio and operated by his son, Antonieto, irrigates about 10 hectares of their neighbors’ farms.
It also provides endless supply of clean water for household use and for the fish tanks built by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
The lake beside it has become a tourism area.
On Jan. 11, I visited the New Janiuay SPIS along with Rocky French who led the American team which built it.
Rocky and I agreed that Antonio’s Jugos farm could be developed into a Tilapia production area using the Hybrid Tilapia SAAVI PML71-A that Rocky bred in Kidapawan City.
With the help of BFAR, we will assist the Jugos Family in establishing an African Hito breeding facility.
When he starts harvesting Tilapia from his fish tanks, I will ask Antonio Jugos to deliver a kilo each to the Barangay Captain and the members of the Council.
When he does thar, Antonio Jugos will have the last and loudest laugh.

#TheDreamNeverDies!
#ThankfulForTheVindication!
(Video by Bong Piñol, Braveheart Farms.)