Lacson promotes solar irrigation

FORMER senator and 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo Lacson is committed to expanding access to solar-powered irrigation for farmers nationwide, aiming to reduce agricultural production costs.

Lacson said that if he secures a Senate seat, he will actively seek funding sources for these initiatives by examining the national budget bill for any questionable allocations.

He also said that he would closely review the budget to support related projects, such as catch basins designed to collect and release water during rainy periods and dry spells.

"The budget is the solution to this. And being the budget watchdog, once I see questionable appropriations during the budget deliberations, I will have them realigned for the appropriate programs, activities and projects," he said.

During a Konsultahang Bayan on agriculture in Pangasinan last April 9, Samahan ng Industriya ng Agrikultura president Rosendo So noted that one concern of farmers is the high cost of electricity compared to our neighbors in Asia.

So, to be competitive, our farmers need to lower electricity and other production costs.

Lacson said agricultural barangay, even small ones, can coordinate with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to set up irrigation facilities there.

"You can coordinate with the local NIA office to bring down the cost of electricity," Lacson noted.

Former agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor, who also attended the forum, said solar technology has other uses, including setting up solar-powered sensors in the soil to trigger the flow of water or liquid fertilizer to areas that need irrigation.

"It is very critical that when we formulate policies, we consider the welfare of our farmers," he said.