President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inaugurated the Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation System (ALPIS) on October 26, 2026 to expand access to reliable irrigation in Ifugao province. (Courtesy: Presidential Communications Office)
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday underscored the importance of irrigation in increasing agricultural production and improving farmers’ livelihoods during the inauguration of the P1.49-billion Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation System (ALPIS) in Ifugao, a project expected to expand irrigation coverage to 2,300 hectares of farmland and benefit 1,315 farmers.
Located in Barangay Sto. Domingo, the completed and operational irrigation system will serve four barangays in Alfonso Lista: Sto. Domingo, Namnama, Namillangan and Calupaan.
The project is expected to increase annual palay production from 900 metric tons to 26,000 metric tons, enable farmers to plant and harvest twice a year, and raise their combined annual net income from P16 million to P159 million.
“Pinakamahalaga sa pagsasaka ay ang patubig. At malaki ang pagbabago kapag ‘yung non-irrigated areas ay nagawa natin ang paraan na maipapatubig,” President Marcos said in his speech during the inauguration.
The President said the government continues to expand irrigation infrastructure, including solar-powered systems, to help farmers sustain production amid increasingly severe drought conditions.
The President also cited the government’s efforts to develop 3,000 solar-powered irrigation systems nationwide to reduce dependence on conventional electricity sources and support agricultural production.
“Patuloy po ang inyong pamahalaan. Asahan ninyo na kami ay nandito upang maghanap ng lahat ng kayang magawa upang pagandahin ang buhay ng ating magsasaka,” President Marcos said.
ALPIS includes a pumping station, water intake facility, electrical substation, transbasin tunnel, diversion canals and access roads. It draws water from the Magat River and pumps it to agricultural areas across the river.
The project is part of the Marcos administration’s efforts to expand irrigation coverage, improve agricultural productivity, and strengthen the country’s food security.
According to the National Irrigation Administration, approximately 2.2 million hectares of the country’s estimated 3.13 million hectares of irrigable land had been developed for irrigation as of December 2025.