The Department of Agriculture (DA) Central Luzon, through its Regional Soils Laboratory (RSL), has officially launched the ₱35.9-million Mobile Soil Laboratory (MSL) at the Research Outreach Station for Lowland Development (RSLD) in Barangay Paraiso, Tarlac.

Funded under the National Soil Health Program (NSHP) of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), the MSL aims to deliver affordable, accurate, and science-based soil analysis services to farmers across Central Luzon.

The ten-wheeler mobile facility is equipped with modern laboratory instruments capable of analyzing 44 chemical, physical, and biological properties of soil and water, ensuring reliable assessments for agricultural use.

The launch was led by RSL Chief Rosalie T. Laxamana, alongside DA-RFO III Regional Executive Director Dr. Eduardo L. Lapuz Jr., Regional Technical Director Dr. Irene M. Adion, and other local agriculture officials. The ceremony included a ribbon-cutting, blessing, and facility tour.

As part of the NSHP’s “3A’s” framework — Accessible, Available, and Accurate — the MSL seeks to strengthen soil health monitoring, provide site-specific fertilizer recommendations, and support capacity building for farmers and agricultural extension workers.

The MSL was first unveiled nationally in December 2024 at Malacañang, attended by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. Sixteen mobile laboratories were later distributed nationwide on June 30, 2025, with Central Luzon’s unit scheduled for deployment in Zambales this October.

Expected outputs include updated soil fertility maps, enhanced farmer knowledge on soil and nutrient management, and improved soil health monitoring across the region.