Don Philip M. De Vera, 29 years of age and operation manager of the VeraMar Rice Mill and Trading, a family-owned business based in San Rafael, Bulacan, testifies about the ease and efficiency of using the PHilMech-developed grain probe moisture meter or “buriki”.

This soon-to-be commercialized technology was developed for rapid and accurate moisture content (MC) measurement of paddy and corn grains while doing the customary sampling. The test chamber has a capacity of 100g and is equipped with a menu panel and a handle which makes it more convenient and portable to use. From his experience, the buriki’s battery life can also last three days and has a capacity of 600 to 700 bags/day.

In 2017, PHilMech staff personally introduced the technology to Mr. De Vera during the field testing of the buriki prototype. In his curiosity and willingness to contribute to its development, he accepted the prototype and was able to use it in the procurement of palay in his rice mill up to today. “PHilMech mismo ang nagpunta dito. Pinasubukan nila yung prototype pagkatapos ay manghihingi sila ng feedback kung ano yung pwedeng i-improve, pwedeng baguhin o pwedeng alisin (PHilMech came here. They asked me to try the prototype and they would ask me for feedback on what they can improve, change or even remove),” said De Vera.

In the initial utilization of buriki, some of his clients were hesitant due to the new technology. However, upon witnessing its accuracy, they accepted it, too. “Una hesitant sila kase bago. Ang ginawa na lang namin since kami naman yung buyer, kami yung masusunod. Pero nung nakita nila na safe naman, wala naman naging reklamo sa paggamit nito,” he explained.

De Vera is in his quest of progressing their family business. Established by his father, Don Felipe De Vera, in 1996, he, among all of his siblings, took interest in running the business as early as 16 years old until it was turned-over to him when he was 27.

In achieving his goal, it was very important to make sure that all of the equipment and machines used in their rice mill are efficient and beneficial to deliver satisfying service to clients. This is how the buriki caught his attention and gained his approval.

De Vera says that the buriki delivers in terms of performance and and its accuracy in reading the moisture content of paddy. It consistently has a difference of minus 2 points from his current moisture meter. Portability is also an advantage compared to what he is currently using. In sampling of paddy, he no longer needs to sample each bag and pour it into the moisture meter. With the buriki, he will just stab the technology through the bags of paddy, then the MC will be accurately displayed in the three-digit LED display after a few seconds.

“Inonor ko talaga yung pagiging accurate nya. Kapag naman na-double check ko dito sa ginagamit namin, pareho naman. Hindi naman sya nagkakamali. Atsaka, kapag sa summer, doon mo sya kailangang-kailangan kase unang-una handy siya. Hindi gaya ng moisture meter ko, tutusok ka don, dalin mo pa dito. Maraming oras ang sasayangin unlike dito sa buriki, pagka- tusok mo, makikita mo na kung pass or fail (I honored its accuracy. Even if I double-checked, it was the same. It hasn’t failed me. During summer, when we really need this, it becomes very handy unlike my old moisture meter, where we would go from one place to test and another to check the MC, it is time consuming. Unlike with the buriki, once you test it, you will immediately see if it is a pass or fail),” said De Vera.

De Vera also explained the difficulty of distinguishing the MC between 16 and 14 percent. According to him, once you stock paddy with 16 percent MC, it will become a loss, but with the buriki, he has saved his procured paddy from potential losses.

He looks forward to partnering with the government more as he innovates and expands their family business in the future.