The Philippines now has its first mobile soil laboratory, providing economical and accurate soil analysis to Filipino farmers.
President Marcos inaugurated the first-ever Mobile Soil Laboratory (MSL) in a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on Friday, Dec. 6.
It is a customized 10-wheeler truck with state-of-the-art equipment, facility, resources, and safety features, with a capacity to conduct 44 soil chemical, physical and microbiological parameters.
"Layunin ng proyektong ito na bigyan ang ating mga magsasaka ng kaalaman at teknolohiyang magagamit nila sa siyentipiko na paraan ng pagsasaka. Sa ganitong paraan, mapapangalagaan nila ang kalusugan ng kanilang lupa, magagamit nang tama ang mga pataba, at makakamit ang mas mataas na ani (This project aims to give our farmers the knowledge and the technology they can use for a scientific method of farming)," Marcos said.
He said it will not only help the farmers as it would also provide data to agencies in coming up with policies in aid of the real necessities of our agriculture sector in every part of the country.
The mobile soil laboratory will first go to Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bulacan, Pampanga, Aurora, and Bataan. It will stay in every province for about two months to provide services to at least 10 farmers every day.
According to the President, the lab test results from the mobile laboratory can be provided to farmers in five days. Services will also be provided for free on the initial operation of the laboratory.
Marcos further said that the government is eyeing to procure additional 16 units to be deployed across all regions.
“Sa unang bahagi ng 2025, layunin nating maglunsad ng karagdagang labing anim pa na Mobile Soil Laboratories sa buong bansa—isa bawat rehiyon (During the first part of 2025, we intend to launch 1 additional Mobile Soil Laboratories around the country—one in each region) ,” the President said.
The mobile soil laboratories will be stationed at the Regional Soils Laboratories of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The MSL is a project of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) under its National Soil Health Program.