Former Senator and 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is prepared to help bring solar-powered irrigation to more farmers in more areas in the country, to bring down agriculture production costs.
Lacson said that should he earn a seat in the Senate, he is ready to find sources of funds for such programs by scrutinizing the national budget bill for questionable appropriations.
He said he will similarly scrutinize the budget to fund related programs, such as catch basins that impound water during rainy days and release the water if needed during the dry season.
“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.
Related: Ping Lacson, Titiyakin ang Solar-Powered Irrigation para sa Mas Maraming Magsasaka sa Pamamagitan ng Pagbusisi sa Budget
During a Konsultahang Bayan on agriculture in Pangasinan last April 9, Samahan ng Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) president Rosendo So had noted that one concern of farmers is the high cost of electricity, compared to our neighbors in Asia.
So said there is a need to bring down electricity and other production costs for our farmers to be competitive.
For now, Lacson said agricultural barangays, 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 was also in the forum, said there are other uses for solar technology, 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.
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Ping Lacson, Titiyakin ang Solar-Powered Irrigation para sa Mas Maraming Magsasaka sa Pamamagitan ng Pagbusisi sa Budget
Handa si dating Senador at 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson na tiyaking mas maraming magsasaka sa mas maraming lugar ang makikinabang sa solar-powered irrigation, para bumaba ang kanilang production costs.
Ani Lacson, kung sakaling manalo siya sa pagka-senador sa Mayo, handa siyang muling busisiin ang budget bill para ma-realign ang kahinahinalang appropriation, papunta sa programang makakatulong sa magsasaka.
Bubusisiin din niya ang budget para pondohan ang ibang programang agrikultural tulad ng catch basin na mag-impound ng tubig kung tag-ulan, at pakawalan ito kung kakailanganin kung tag-init.
“Kung budget ang pinaguusapan at budget ang solution, ako ang tagabantay. Pag may budget deliberation, ako ang nagbubusisi sa pondong di magamit nang maayos o mali ang paggamit, at ilipat natin sa dapat pagukulan ng sapat na pondo,” aniya.
Sa Konsultahang Bayan sa Pangasinan noong Abril 9, ipinunto ni Samahan ng Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) president Rosendo So na ang isang pangamba ng magsasaka ang mataas na presyo ng kuryente, kumpara sa ibang bansa sa Asya.
Ayon kay So, kailangang ibaba ang presyo ng kuryente at ibang production costs para kaya ng magsasaka nating makipagsabayan sa ibang bansa.
Sa ngayon, pinayuhan ni Lacson ang mga barangay na makipagugnayan sa National Irrigation Administration (NIA) para magpatayo ng irrigation facilities sa kanilang lugar.
“Makipagugnayan kayo sa inyong NIA, kung sino ang regional director… meron silang ganyang programa. Para sa ganoon mabababa ang cost ng electricity,” aniya.
Ayon naman kay dating Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor, na kasama sa forum, marami ring ibang gamit ang solar technology, kabilang ang solar-powered sensors na ibabaon sa lupa para ma-trigger ang pagdaloy ng tubig o liquid fertilizer sa lugar na kailangan ito.
“Very critical, pag gumawa tayo ng patakaran, tingnan natin kapakanan ng magsasaka,” aniya.
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