ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao — A major irrigation project is set to change farming patterns in this eastern Ifugao town, shifting production from rain-dependent cycles to sustained, multi-season cultivation.
On Oct. 26, 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inaugurated the P1.49-billion Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation System (Alpis) in Barangay Santo Domingo, a project the government said is aimed at raising agricultural output, securing food supply, and cushioning farmers from the impact of El Niño.
The facility, built by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), is designed to serve four villagess — Calupaan, Namnama, Namillangan, and Sto. Domingo — reaching 1,315 farming families and covering 2,300 hectares of agricultural land.
Its operation hinges on the Magat Reservoir as a water source, providing a steady flow that farmers have lacked in the past. With assured water, cropping can continue even when rainfall declines, protecting harvests from prolonged dry periods and stabilizing incomes tied to the land.
Government estimates show the expected scale of transformation. The service area with reliable irrigation is projected to expand from 275 hectares to 2,300 hectares.
Corresponding rice production is forecast to climb from 900 metric tons to 26,000 metric tons, while total farmers' income could grow from P16 million to P159 million at full utilization.
The president pointed to the linkage between water infrastructure and renewable energy as a key factor in raising productivity amid climate risks.
“We have long thought about and planned these projects because irrigation is very important for our farmers. Because of the sacrifice, perseverance, and hard work of our farmers, the whole Philippines is able to eat. That is why we continue to find ways on how we can help them more,” Marcos said in Tagalog.
For the provincial government, the project is seen as a direct investment in the ability of Ifugao communities to produce more from existing farmlands.
Gov. Jerry Dalipog expressed appreciation for the national support, noting its impact beyond physical structures.
"This irrigation project represents more than infrastructure; it represents food security, empowerment of our farmers to increase production, cultivate more land and provide for our people," Dalipog stated.
On the ground, irrigators said the change will be immediate in how they plan their seasons.
Santo Domingo Irrigators' Association President Rodolfo Manglalan said the system addresses a long-standing constraint that limited yields and household earnings.
"Before, our farms depended on rainwater, but with this irrigation system, we will have a continuous supply of water. We also hope for continued support from the government," Manglalan said.
For individual growers, reliability means more planting opportunities. Farmer-beneficiary Naty Inggo said the new supply comes at a crucial period as El Niño looms.
"With continuous water supply, we can have two or three planting seasons a year for better yields," Inggo said.
Planting twice or three times a year is expected to raise land productivity, create more farm labor days, and increase rice availability in local markets — key indicators in the broader push to boost agricultural production.
NIA said Alpis forms part of its multi-year program in the Cordillera Administrative Region, where investments are focused on expanding irrigation coverage, modernizing delivery systems, and strengthening rural communities against climate variability.
Together with support services such as seeds, inputs, and extension, the infrastructure is intended to help farmers move from subsistence-level, single-crop dependence to a more intensive and resilient production system, officials said.
