Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

NEWS STORIES

BPRE holds workshop on Rice Processing Complex
by Aileen L. Reyes (November 7, 2006)
A strategic planning workshop on modern integrated rice processing and milling complex (RPC) for Aurora province was conducted last August 30-31, 2006 at BPRE, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija. The bureau hosted the workshop to formulate a detailed business plan for the project.


The workshop was attended by 20 participants from the Department of Agriculture-Project Development Service (DA-PDS), DA-Special Project Coordination and Management Assistance Division (DA-SPCMAD), Aurora Provincial Engineering Office, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, DA-Regional Field Unit III, Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT), Provincial Government of Aurora (PGA), Aurora Provincial Equipment and Pool Office (PEPO), and the National Food Authority-Aurora.


Engr. Ruben E. Manalabe, director of the Postharvest Engineering Department, gave the opening remarks and welcomed the participants. He thanked everyone for coming to help in formulating the business plan of the project.


Incidentally, Manalabe is one of the BPRE staff who attended the training in Korea and saw the state of the art equipment that will be put up in the Rice Processing Complex. He added that RPC will not only provide high quality rice but will also generate jobs for the people of Aurora.


Meanwhile, Mr. Guy A. Tuzon who represented Aurora Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo said that the Governor fervently hopes that by the end of the two-day workshop, there will be a clear and definite plan of action for the project. The governor reportedly want the cooperatives to be part of the operation of the RPC. Tuzon also added that Castillo calls upon each agency involved in the project to help 'make the RPC work, make it successful, make it best and make it a legacy'.


During the workshop, it was agreed that production support (e.g. inputs through credit) and technical assistance will be provided to farmer cooperatives who will be the partners in rice production. Said cooperatives will be reactivated and strengthened through capability-building, organizational management and credit assistance.


It was also agreed that for the test-run of the RPC, the National Food Authority of Aurora will provide the raw materials. As to what rice varieties will be provided by NFA will still be decided upon.


The RPC will be managed by the provincial government of Aurora. Construction of the buildings is expected to be completed by the end of the year and by 2007, the RPC will be operational.