Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Inauguration of the Sulvec Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP)

Speeches 19 July 2024

Thank you.

[Agtugaw tayo apo.]

Thank you to Secretary Kiko Laurel for his kind introduction.

Of course, I would like to greet everybody here who I’ve not seen in a long time. Number one, the Governor, Governor Matthew Manotoc; the Vice Governor Cecile, also who has been holding the fort in the meantime; and of course, ang ating… [Ano forever?] Forever Mayor, forever Mayor ng Piddig, pero ngayon administrator na, Administrator ng NIA, Administrator Eddie Guillen who has been helping us sa lahat ng aming ginagawa dahil alam naman natin na ang pinaka-importante, pinakamahalaga kapag ang pinag-uusapan ayagrikultura, lalong-lalo na kung palay ay patubig. And that is why, we have concentrated a lot of our efforts, a lot of our funding dito sa ganitong klaseng mga proyekto.

The Pasuquin Mayor, Mayor Aguinaldo. Apo nga mayores ken bokales ken opisyales nga LGU; my fellow workers in government; ti mannalon tayo (our farmers); gagayyem ken kakabsat, naimbag nga aldaw, ayayatek nga [kakailyan]. (Good day, my beloved fellowmen.)

Maragsakanak nga adda iti sidong yu a mangiburay iti daytoy naisangsangayan a okasion. (I am happy to be with you/among you to share this momentous occasion.)

It is indeed a momentous event, for me, as we celebrate [yet] another triumph in our efforts to elevate the state of agriculture in the country.

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m grateful to be with you as we inaugurate the Sulvec Small Reservoir Irrigation Project or the Sulvec SRIP.

It is a more than 900-million-peso project that includes the Sulvec Earthfill Dam, which is the first impounding dam to be constructed here in our province.

It boasts a capacity of over one million cubic meters, if translated into practical terms, that means a generous supply of water that can irrigate more than 700 hectares of agricultural land in 10 barangays here in Pasuquin.

Ang proyekto pong ito ay makakapagbigay ng patubig sa [higit isang] libong magsasaka sa lugar na ito.

Kaya po ang mga magsasaka natin ay [makaaasa] na magiging mas maganda at marami pa ang kanilang aanihin.

Aside from storing water for irrigation, two hectares of the dam’s reservoir will be dedicated to aquaculture.

The NIA is also planning to develop the Sulvec SRIP to accommodate a hydropower plant [and] facilities for recreation and tourism. [applause]

In fact, I was looking around. One of the things — Gov. Matt — one of things that the we discovered when we do these things. When we have a dam, when we put a dam and there is a lake, immediately it is a potential tourist spot, and that’s something that we can think about.

And besides, what we can add to the hydroelectric power and the aquaculture that we are going to get from this Earthfill Dam is also the… Magpalutang tayo ng solar na — para mayroon tayong power, para nga kung makapag-develop tayo ng tourist destination dito, mayroon na tayong pagkukuhanan ng kuryente.

The implementation of this may have been long and laborious, but knowing how many communities will benefit and how much impact it will make on their [daily]work, it is impossible not to be excited and happy!

So, allow me to recognize some of the few people who have worked very hard to make this a reality.

First, I would like to acknowledge our engineers, our architects, and construction workers who have relentlessly worked to ensure the integrity of the structure, operation, and maintenance of this program. [applause]

And perhaps you might think that your tasks in building this is just another job to meet the needs of your respective families, I have to tell you, it is much more than that.

This project is a testament to [the] Filipino mark of excellence which has contributed significantly to our efforts in rebuilding our nation and providing a better environment for the next generations.

To the officials and staff of NIA, your perseverance has led to the accomplishment of this project. And while we celebrate the realization of this undertaking, the challenge for us moving forward is to keep delivering [on] our promises and for the aspirations of our people.

I was just having a quick discussion with Secretary Kiko, kailangan pa natin daan-daan na ganito. This is what — we need hundreds of these around the country. [applause]

Kaya’t please see to it that the operations of the Sulvec SRIP will be smooth and dependable so that we can keep our word to our citizens and we can inspire more programs and more projects like this all around the country.

And with the leadership and support that this administration is always ready to provide, I enjoin you to spare no effort in the execution of our other plans and projects.

So, let us exhibit how [the] government works under the banner of [a] Bagong Pilipinas.

At bilang panghuli, sa ating mga minamahal na magsasaka: Kaagapay ninyo ako at ang buong pamahalaan ng Pilipinas sa pagkamit ng isang masagana at maginhawang bukas.

Hindi dito nagtatapos ang ating mga hakbang upang makamit natin ang Bagong Pilipinas —ang Isang Bagong Pilipinas kung saan ang lahat ay may pagkakataon at kakayahan na pagyamanin ang kanilang kaalaman, galing, at pamumuhay para sa kanilang sarili, para sa kanilang mga pamilya at para sa ating minamahal na Pilipinas.

Isang Bagong Pilipinas kung saan ang pamahalaan at ang mga sangay nito ay kumikilos nang mabilis, mabisa, at puno ng pagmamahal sa kapwa at sa bansa.

Kaya, patuloy po tayong magkaisa para sa ating mga mithiin at para sa ating minamahal na Inang Bayan.

So, once again, I extend my warmest gratitude to all the minds, hands, and hearts that turned this dream into reality. [applause]

I am sure that, like me, you also hold great optimism and hope for the coming days and years, both for the development of the agricultural sector here in Ilocos Norte and the progress of the entire nation.

Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas! Dios ti agngina! Naimbag nga aldaw kadakayo amin! [applause]

— END —