Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
(044) 4560-213, od@philmech.gov.ph

NEWS STORIES

Y4M movement gains 195 new advocates in Kalinga
by Jett Molech G. Subaba (August 25, 2026)
The DA-PHilMech’s Youth for Mechanization (Y4M) advocacy campaign concluded its third-quarter run today, August 25, gaining 195 new student and faculty advocates from Kalinga State University (KSU). The event brought together participants from the university's Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Agriculture, and Development Communication programs.

“Today's Y4M Advocacy Campaign is more than a seminar. It is an invitation for each of you to become part of the transformation of Philippine agriculture. Let this advocacy campaign remind us that the future of Philippine agriculture lies not only in modern technologies but also in the passion, creativity, and commitment of its young professionals,” said Dr. Paulino P. Reyes II, Vice President for Administration and Finance, in his opening message.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jett G. Subaba, program lead for Y4M, encouraged the youth to join the movement and be part of the solution to securing the food and future of the nation.

“We want to see the Filipino youth not merely talking about social problems; instead, taking action and becoming part of the solution. You don’t need to be a politician to change this nation; joining agricultural causes like Y4M already makes you a catalyst for change!” Subaba emphasized.

The campaign featured hands-on technology demonstrations, including an agricultural drone showcase by DJI Agriculture Philippines and rice machinery deployed under PHilMech's RCEF Mechanization Program. Some of the participants got to experience driving rice combine harvesters, four-wheel tractors, and rice transplanters. They also had the chance to fly a drone and utilize its spraying functions.

In addition to mechanization, PHilMech presented one of its banner initiatives, the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan - Shared Facilities for Processing (CFIDP-SFP) program.

Building on the event's momentum, KSU plans to establish a university-based Y4M club by mobilizing campaign participants alongside existing agricultural student organizations.