Marcos launches PH's first mobile soil laboratory

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Friday led the inauguration of the country’s first mobile soil laboratory (MSL) in Malacañang, vowing to procure 16 more units for all regions in 2025.

“Ito kaya ngayon, ang araw na ito’y makasaysayan --- dahil makasaysayang hakbang na nagbibigay-diin sa kahalagahan ng agrikultura sa ating adhikain nang masiguro ang sapat na pagkain, mauunlad na pamayanan, at mas nagkakaisang bayan,” Marcos said in his speech at the ceremony.

(This is why today, this day, is historic --- it is a historic step that emphasizes the importance of agriculture in our advocacy to ensure sufficient food, prosperous communities, and a more united nation.)

“Ang tagumpay na ito ay patunay ng ating walang pagod na hangarin na patatagin ang ating ekonomiya sa pamamagitan ng pagalalay sa ating mga magsasaka,” he added.

(This success is proof of our tireless desire to strengthen our economy by supporting our farmers.)

The MSL is a customized 10-wheeler truck possessing state of the art equipment, facility, resources, and safety features, with the capacity to conduct 44 soil chemical, physical, and microbiological parameters.

The MSL increases the accessibility of soil laboratory services for agricultural stakeholders to guarantee the sustainable use and management of soil resources and strengthen crop productivity.

The project is under the National Soil Health Program of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM).

“Sa unang bahagi ng 2025, layunin nating maglunsad ng karagdagang labing anim pa na Mobile Soil Laboratories sa buong bansa—isa bawat rehiyon,” he said.

(By early 2025, we aim to launch an additional sixteen Mobile Soil Laboratories nationwide — one per region.)

According to Marcos, equipping farmers with modern technologies will prepare them against challenges in farming.

The lab test results from the mobile laboratory can be provided to farmers in five days, and services will be for free on the initial operation of the laboratory.

The MSL also possesses soil test data banking.

“Ang mga datos na makakalap mula rito ay magbibigay din sa ating mga tanggapan ng mga impormasyon upang makabuo ng patakarang sumasalamin sa tunay na pangangailangan ng ating agrikultura,” President Marcos said.

(The data gathered from the MSLs will also give our offices with information to develop policies that reflect the true needs of the agriculture sector.)

Once procured, the MSLs will be stationed at the Regional Soils Laboratories of the Department of Agriculture (DA), to serve 10 beneficiaries per day.

“Layunin ng proyektong ito na bigyan ang ating mga magsasaka ng kaalaman at teknolohiyang magagamit nila na siyentipikong paraan ng pagsasaka. Sa ganitong paraan, mapapangalagaan nila ang kalusugan ng kanilang lupa, magagamit nang tama ng pataba, at makakamit ang mas mataas na ani,” Marcos said.

(The aim of this project is to provide our farmers with knowledge and technology that they can use to practice scientific farming methods. In this way, they can maintain the health of their soil, use fertilizer properly, and achieve higher harvest.)

The BSWM said they plan to deploy the MSL at the National Soil and Water Resources Research Development Center Lowland Ped-Ecological Zone in San Idelfonso, Bulacan to serve rice farmers in Region III.—Jamil Santos/AOL, GMA Integrated News