The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) distributed on December 7, 2023 (Thursday) P398.54 million worth of farm machines to 88 qualified farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and local government units (LGUs) in Nueva Ecija, one of the major rice producing provinces in the country.

This is the biggest single-day distribution of farm machines made by PHilMech under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Mechanization Program, and was conducted at the headquarters of PHilMech in Munoz, Nueva Ecija.

Witnessing the distribution ceremony is Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu-Laurel, Jr.

PHilMech Director IV Dionisio G. Alvindia said the one-day distribution of 125 units of various farm machines to the 88 FCAs and LGUs will have a significant impact on the production of palay (unmilled) rice in Nueva Ecija and nearby areas, which will help the country attain a higher level of food security.

“As we all know, Nueva Ecija is the top producer of palay in the country, and by strengthening its palay output, the country can have more supplies of the staple and lessen the need for imports,” he said.

“This biggest one-day distribution of farm machines also clearly demonstrated how PHilMech has sustained the distribution of farm machines and conducted various trainings for beneficiaries under the RCEF-Mechanization Program, and our ultimate aim is to modernize countryside, and make the countryside contribute more to national economic development,” Director Alvindia added.

The farm machines that were distributed is composed of 5 four-wheel tractors; 22 hand tractors; 9 walk-behind transplanters; 21 riding type transplanter; 4 precision seeders; 22 rice combine harvesters; 9 single-pass rice mills; 13 six-ton recirculating dryers; 13 12-ton ecirculating dryers; four 1.5-ton per hour (tph) multi-stage rice mills; two 2-3 tph multi-stage rice mills; and one 4-5 tph multi-stage rice mills.

The postharvest facilities, or the recirculating dryers and the multi-stage rice mills, are currently being delivered and installed at the project site of the beneficiaries.

Director Alvindia said that from 2019 or the start of the the RCEF-Mechanization Program, at total of P1.49 billion worth of farm machines have been distributed to various FCAs and LGUs in Nueva Ecija as follows: 2019 - P194.7 million; 2020 - P302.5 million; 2021 - P364.9 million; 2022 - P231.1 million; and P2023, P398.5 million.

A total of 935 units of various rice machinery and equipment amounting were distributed at no cost to 444 FCAs and LGUs in the province of Nueva Ecija from 2019-2023 under the RCEF-Mechanization Program.

Besides Senator Villar and Secretary Laurel, also attending the biggest one-day distribution of farm machines under the RCEF-Mechanization Program at the PHilMech headquarters are: Rep. Wilbert T. Lee of AGRI Partylist; Dir. Crispulo G. Bautista, Jr., the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon); Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing, of the First District, Nueva Ecija; Rep. Joseph Gilbert F. Violago, Second District, Nueva Ecija; Rep. Rosanna V. Vergara, Third District, Nueva Ecija; Rep. Emerson D. Pascual, Fourth District, Nueva Ecija Fourth District; Nueva Ecija; Gov. Aurelio M. Umali; Munoz Mayor Baby Armi L. Alvarez; Dir. Remelyn R. Recoter, Agricultural Training Institute; Land Bank of the Philippines President Lynette V. Ortiz; Development Bank of the Philippines Chairperson Dante O. Tiñga; Dir. Suharto T. Mangudadatu of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; Dir. John C. De Leon of the Philippine Rice Research Institute; Dept. Manager Gertrudes A. Viado of the National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems; Engr. Alwin M. Uy of the National Food Authority; Dir. Demosthenes R. Escoto of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; Dir. Caro B. Salces of the Philippine Carabao Center; Central Luzon State University President Edgar A. Orden; and Engr. Marvin Cinense of the Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology.