SPIS Audit-2! P10-M SPIS Built 2020 Abandoned, Forgotten

The Dept.of Agriculture’s Solar-Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) in Pulanglupa, Mlang, North Cotabato has become a symbol of incompetence and lack of concern and dedication on the part of government workers.
Built in 2019 and completed the following year, the Pulanglupa SPIS was designed to be the biggest costing over P10-M.
It was expected to cover about 50 hectare of rice farms in an area where farmers depend on natural precipitation.
The SPIS was never able to deliver even one liter of water to the fields.
The head of the farmers’ group which was supposed to be the beneficiary of the project, Boy de Guzman, said the SPIS was only turned during its inauguration.
The reservoir was filled with water pumped from the Mlang River but the following morning, the water was gone.
This was an indication that it was poorly built and the water leaked.
De Guzman said the project also did not include water distribution pipes or canals.
This was the reason why local officials refused to accept the turn-over of the project.
The biggest disappointment was that nobody showed any concern to address the problems submitted by the farmers – leaking reservoir and absence of water distribution lines.
When it was brought to my attention lately, miscellaneous species of trees, shrubs and vines had grown in the solar panel area.
When I and my SPIS Private Monitoring Group inspected the area Jan. 11, the system was working and the panels generated power even after 4 years of neglect.
Why am I so concerned about the status of the SPIS units constructed by the DA?
The SPIS Project was my brainchild and it was launched by President Duterte in Feb. 2017.
Targeting about 500,000 hectares all over the country, the SPIS could greatly boost rice production in the country.
The technology is right and the farmers are ready to do their part.
What we need are government workers who are dedicated and who could work beyond office hours to achieve the goal.

#GovernanceIsCommonSense!