Farmers in Barangay Inlambo, Mangaldan, Pangasinan can once again irrigate their fields with a solar-powered system that had been out of service for five years after it was submerged in floodwaters during by a tropical cyclone in 2020.

The Department of Agriculture and the National Irrigation Administration rehabilitated the facility, which is designed to supply water even during the dry season.

“’Yung iba functional tapos mayroon din naman na for rehabilitation, may iba na operational, may iba na kailangang i-ayos,” Manuel Aquino, rice coordinator at the Mangaldan Municipal Agriculture Office, said.

The solar-powered irrigation system is one of several in Mangaldan, with others still undergoing repairs. Around 70 percent of the town’s barangays rely on irrigation canals, while the remaining 30 percent (eight barangays) depend mainly on rainwater and solar-powered irrigation.

“Malaking bagay ito kasi magagamit ng mga magsasaka, mapapatubigan 'yung mga palayan kahit walang irigasyon,” Dong Cerezo, a farmer, said.

The facility’s return is expected to help farmers maintain crop yields and reduce their vulnerability to drought.