Ilocos Norte farmers get 60 engine pumps

(Photo from Fanny Miguel/ Provincial Agriculture Office)

CURRIMAO, Ilocos Norte — Farmers in this town’s 13 villages received a major boost as they received 60 engine pump sets, including hoses, from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

This project is in collaboration with the Ilocos Norte provincial government.

Endorsed by Mayor Edward Quilala, the P1.5-million livelihood assistance aims to support local farmers in sustaining crop production amid the dry season.

“We are grateful to our local officials for granting our request. These water pumps will ensure the growth of our plants, particularly this summer,” the Ilocos Norte Currimao Federation of Farmers and Fishermen Association Inc. said on Friday.

The group is led by its president Severino Dadoy.

Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc underscored the pumps’ role in ensuring timely irrigation, enhancing productivity, and mitigating climate change effects.

He also thanked DOLE for its continued support for Ilocos Norte’s agricultural sector.

According to PAGASA, this year’s dry season will likely start on the third week of March, with temperatures reaching 39 degrees Celsius in Northern Luzon, particularly in urban areas.