Some rice farmers in Mangaldan, Pangasinan are struggling with limited irrigation water during the dry cropping season, forcing them to rely on water pumps to keep their fields productive, local officials said.

Farmers said water supply from several irrigation canals has become irregular, disrupting scheduled watering of rice fields and increasing production costs.

“Hindi na nasusunod ang iskedyul ng patubig. Kakaunti ang patubig,” Armando Cerezo, a farmer, said.

The Mangaldan Municipal Agriculture Office said it is coordinating with the National Irrigation Administration to address the problem in affected barangays. Officials clarified that while water shortages persist in some areas, overall rice production in the town is not expected to suffer.

Rice coordinator Manuel Aquino said around 80 percent of rice crops in Mangaldan are already near harvest stage, limiting the impact of reduced irrigation.

“Sa validation natin, marami na ang nasa maturity stage kaya hindi na ito masyado maaapektuhan ng kakulangan ng tubig,” Aquino said.

Mangaldan has about 1,350 hectares of rice fields, with more than 8,000 tons of palay targeted for harvest this dry cropping season, according to the agriculture office.

Officials said they remain confident that the town will meet or even exceed its production target, citing favorable crop conditions and the use of certified seeds.

“Itong 2025–2026, maganda ang ani natin. Mahihigitan pa natin ang ani kasi maganda mga certified seeds natin,” Aquino said.

Local authorities said they will continue to monitor irrigation conditions while working with national agencies to support farmers in areas experiencing water shortages.