Paitan Dam project done in 2027 – Marcos

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PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday expressed optimism that the Lower Agno River Irrigation System (Laris) Paitan Dam project in Santa Maria, Pangasinan, would be completed by 2027 to boost agricultural productivity and strengthen the farmers' resilience to climate-related risks.

PAITAN DAM GROUNDBREAKING President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the groundbreaking ceremony of the Lower Agno River Irrigation System Paitan Dam in Santa Maria, Pangasinan, on May 23, 2025. PHOTO FROM PNA/RTVM

In his speech during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Laris Paitan Dam Project, Marcos said the major irrigation project by the regional office of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) was designed to harness the water resources of the Agno River, one of the country's largest river systems.

He said the project would provide consistent and sustainable irrigation across farmlands in the towns of Santa Maria, Rosales, Santo Tomas, Alcala, Bautista and Bayambang in Pangasinan; San Miguel and Moncada in Tarlac; and Cuyapo in Nueva Ecija.

"We are here to start the solution. We are doing something, and we can do something. Instead of flooding during the rainy season, what we will do is store the water to be used during the dry season. And that is what the Paitan Dam will do," Marcos said.

"Uninterrupted irrigation for our farmers. Bigger income, greater comfort for our farmers. I hope this will be completed by 2027 or sooner if possible so that our countrymen can immediately feel the benefits of the Laris Paitan Dam," he added.

Once completed, the President said the dam was expected to provide water irrigation to 12,041 hectares of agricultural land, which would directly benefit 11,942 farmers from 56 irrigators' associations.

He said the Paitan Dam would also help boost the rice harvest and production from 9 tons per hectare to an average of 4.2 tons per hectare.

"Because of this, harvests are expected to increase, along with the overall production of rice. This means greater income and improved livelihood for our farmers," he added.

During the event, the President also led the ceremonial turnover of farm machinery and equipment, farm inputs and solar-powered irrigation projects.

Marcos said the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) also rolled out a wide range of interventions for nearly 6,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project.

The support package distributed to ARBs includes organic plant supplements and 10 four-wheel drive tractors with implements and multirole power stations.

These interventions aim to boost productivity, raise farm incomes and strengthen the resilience of farming communities to climate-related risks such as droughts, floods and typhoons.

Meanwhile, 11 solar-powered irrigation projects were handed over to communities in various areas of Pangasinan. These solar-powered systems offer a clean, efficient and low-maintenance solution for off-grid farming areas.

"The good thing about the Solar-Powered Irrigation pump is that it is a sustainable solution for modern farming. Once it is installed and is drawing electricity from the sun, there is no need for crude oil," Marcos said.

In total, more than P370 million worth of farm machinery and equipment, farm inputs and solar-powered irrigation projects from DAR, NIA and the Department of Agriculture were turned over to beneficiaries.