Farmer-members of the Calangahan Active Farmers Association in Sagbayan, Bohol, the beneficiary of the Solar Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) is now the owner the project, following the simple turnover ceremony, held at the project site in Barangay Calangahan.

The project, in their previous cropping season, already gave them good harvests, or an increase in their yield.

Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas (DA7) Regional Executive Director Angel C. Enriquez, officially handed the certificate of turnover and the symbolic key of ownership and responsibility to provincial officials, which was passed to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sagbayan, then to the Barangay Captain of Calangahan, and finally to the President of the association.

During her engagement with the farmers, Director Enriquez emphasized the objective of the SPIS, which is to increase agricultural productivity and improve farmers’ income. She encouraged the beneficairies to document and give a report on the positive impact of the project, like an increase in rice yield.

The association members expressed their gratitude to DA under the leadership of DA Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu-Laurel Jr., as well as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for addressing their long-standing irrigation needs.

Association president Ferdinand Tocmo shared that their rice field are rainfed, which are solely dependent on rain water. Now, with the SPIS, they can follow the planting season as scheduled. They expressed commitment to properly take care of the project, having a scheme on operation and maintenance for the project to sustain. and hoping to see a significant increase in their harvests