Transforming a Farming Community with a Sustainable Solution through Rotary (Solar Powered Irrigation System: The Future of Farming)
- Rotary Club of Marikina West
- Feb 2
- 5 min read
What started as an idea became a reality that transcended several Rotary years!
A story on how a collaborative project came into fruition thru the efforts of Rotarians from two countries. This is the story of Global Grant # GG2350722 titled "Solar Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) for Pagsangahan (Quezon Province) Farmers; a high-impact project!
The IDEA that started it all
During Rotary Year (RY) 2020-21 under the leadership of then-President Paul Chua – with the assistance and support of Past President Argel Cabatbat, a partylist congressman back then representing farmers, and Mr. Danny Carranza, a kind soul advocating also the plight of farmers – the Rotary Club of Marikina West (RCMW) – popularly known as The Golden West – submitted a project proposal of a solar powered irrigation system at the ‘Rotary Showcase’ (now called ‘Service Project Center’) looking for international partners.
Project background
The project aims to increase the production capacity of farmers by installing solar powered irrigation system (SPIS) at Barangay Pagsangahan, San Francisco, Quezon Province, Philippines.
The direct beneficiaries of the project are the members of Pagsangahan Irrigators Association SFQ. The organization has 68 rice farmer-members who cultivate an estimated area of 1.5 hectares each. The estimated average yield of rice farmers is 80 “cavans” per hectare. One “cavan” is a sack of rice weighing approximately 50 kilograms. The entire barangay will also benefit from the project as the expected increase in yield will result in increased income for rice farmers, ensure access to the staple of other community members, and increased movements of goods and services in the local market due to increased buying capacity of farmers.
SPIS benefits includes the following: (1) increase farming cycle productivity and income by enabling more efficient and flexible irrigation scheduling and management; (2) provide a reliable source of energy in remote areas such as the target location of the project where fuel and transportation of it is costly; and (3) can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from irrigated agriculture.
The project consisted of 2 units of 10HP Centrifugal Pump coupled to 7.5kW Electric Motor, each powered by Solar Panels through Variable Frequency Drive (Pump Inverter). Aside from the pumps and solar panels, the project also includes construction of a Pump House and Catch Basin.
The approximate land area where the components are installed is 350-400 square meters. There are existing canal linings (water distribution) already with approximate length of 2.8 kilometers (total) and out-of-scope for this project.
In addition, a technical turnover was also held by the Contractor to the farmer-beneficiaries on how to maintain the equipment for sustainability in the years to come.
Initial Contact
By RY 2022-23, the project was picked up by the Rotary Club of Sasebo North (RCSN), R.I. District 2740 (Japan) and contacted RCMW thru its website www.rcmarikinawest.org. RCSN's main contact was President Nominee Kenichi Konishi who was in constant communication with RCMW's Past President Radian Fantone. After several email correspondences and calls between the two Rotarians, RCSN sent a delegation of three to discuss the specifics of the project in-person by going to the Philippines on 13-16 November 2022. It was then-President Vincent Bartolome that took care of the delegation during their initial Philippine visit. After which, the RCSN delegation went back to Japan to discuss the project proposal and was approved by their general membership.
Asked why RCSN decided to pursue the proposed project, they mentioned that both clubs shared common milestones such as being chartered on the same year - 1984 - and having the almost the same number of Rotarian members at around 37-40.
Ocular Inspection
RCSN came back again to the Philippines on 4-9 April 2024 during RY 2023-24, under then-President Renny Domingo, to personally conduct an ocular inspection of the actual proposed project site. This time, RCSN had sent two Rotarians.
Challenges
The planning and coordination of this project wasn't always smooth. There were 'bumps' on the way as RCMW almost wanted to discontinue the project due to busy schedules and other commitments of those involved. However, then-President-Elect (PE) Kevin Delfino's (now the Club President for RY 2025-2026) strong will and determination to continue with the project inspired other RCMW members to continue in pursuing the project. The desire to ‘do good in the world’ prevailed amongst the Rotarians.
Project Funding
Finally, under then-President Magnum Agpaoa during RY 2024-25, it was the culmination of said global grant project as funding was approved by The Rotary Foundation (TRF) on 29 August 2024 in the amount of US$ 90,853.00.
President Kevin Delfino, an engineer by profession, led the execution of the project coordinating with The Rotary Foundation, the contractor, the beneficiaries, the international partner (RCSN), as well as the host partner (RCMW), and all other aspects related to this global grant project.
Turnover Ceremonies
Upon completion of the said project, delegates from both RCMW and RCSN travelled a 10-hour, one-way journey by land, going to San Francisco, Quezon province for the turnover over ceremonies. Aside from land travel, it took another 30 minutes trekking on muddy fields to the actual solar irrigation equipment. The Rotarians' dedication, hard work, and effort to the project was all worth it as there were genuine happiness and appreciation from the farmer beneficiaries.
Representatives from RCSN (Japan) were Immediate Past President Shinya Matsuda, Past President Takahiro Murase, President Nominee Kenichi Konishi, and Rotarian Hidekazu Mitani while from RCMW (Philippines) were President Kevin Delfino, Immediate Past President Magnum Agpaoa, Past President Radian Fantone, Past President Argel Cabatbat, and Rotarian Mark Josue.
It is but fitting that the actual turnover of the project to the beneficiaries was held on 23rd February 2025 - the 120th founding anniversary of Rotary witnessed by San Francisco, Quezon then-Mayor Kresna Fernandez.
Side effects
Due to the camaraderie and shared effort by both clubs, they agreed to make their relationship official and take their combined efforts beyond local borders by signing a Sisterhood Agreement which happened on
11 April 2025 in Sasebo, Japan. The signing ceremony was an emotional and beaming occasion witnessed by Rotarians from both Clubs who had worked hard to fulfill this alliance. The presidents of both clubs made the sisterhood agreement official represented by President Magnum Agpaoa (of RC Marikina West) and President Shinji Kumon (of RC Sasebo North).
SO NOW, WHAT’S NEXT?
On 23-27 May 2025, our sister-club of 33 years – the Rotary Club of Taipei Tienmou (RCTT) – visited the Philippines and hosted them in cool Baguio City and festive Clark. During our Coordination Meeting, RCMW led by President Kevin Delfino presented our plans for another global grant project with the same idea of a solar powered irrigation system, but beneficiaries would be farmers from Pila, Laguna. After a few minutes of the RCTT delegation discussing amongst themselves, the group gave a resounding YES to the proposal!
Project proposal is currently in-progress and being prepared for submission this RY 2025-2026.
Written by: Past President Radian Fantone, Rotary Club of Marikina West
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Public Image executions of Global Grant # GG2350722
Project Video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EruDuJeTS/
Broadcast media: https://www.youtube.com/live/w6HVmtyo9bw
Online Media: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/03/18/solar-powered-irrigation-system-spis-for-pagsangahan-quezon-province-farmers
Messages of thanks from the beneficiaries: https://www.facebook.com/rcmarikinawest/posts/pfbid0ezbKujWCS8Sz8sTaZYZsFw6spcqzyco5JMGC9WRPY98o1CjSZKsm8qVw1YvqkjBkl
Congratulation, RCMW!