The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) began releasing irrigation water to canals in Pangasinan on Thursday, July 2, 2026, giving farmers much-needed support as the wet cropping season starts despite low water levels at San Roque Dam.

Farmers in Sta. Barbara were among the first to prepare their rice fields as irrigation water started flowing under the agency's wet season cropping calendar.

Joseph Uson, one of the farmers, welcomed the release of irrigation water, saying many had been waiting for it.

“Maraming halaga po kasi kailangang-kailangan ng mga farmers. Hinihintay kasi 'yung ulan at 'yung irigasyon, wala pa rin,” he said.

NIA said some towns may experience slight delays in irrigation because of repair work on a damaged section of a dam in Sta. Barbara. However, the agency assured farmers that all irrigation systems would eventually receive water.

According to NIA, farmlands in Sta. Barbara supplied by the Agno River Irrigation System will receive water first, followed by neighboring towns and cities in the coming days.

However, Agno-Sinocalan-San Fabian River Irrigation System chief Engr. Harry Villanueva said not all service areas can be irrigated immediately.

“Hindi pa lahat ng ating program area ay puwedeng patubigan for now. So, maghintay po tayo ng magandang bagsak ng ulan para may pondo sa ating high dam,” he said.

The agency also reminded farmers to use irrigation water responsibly as water levels at San Roque Dam, the province's main irrigation source, remain low.

Five of Pangasinan's seven national irrigation systems rely on water from San Roque Dam.

Villanueva said below-normal rainfall in recent months delayed the start of the planting season.

“Nitong nakaraang buwan, medyo mababa pa 'yung mga na-receive natin na pag-ulan. Ang estado ng San Roque Dam natin ngayon medyo mababa pa. Kaya ang start ng ating cropping diyan ay na-move ng July dahil mababa pa 'yung kaniyang water level,” he said.