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 transforms to PHilMech
by Rodolfo P. Estigoy (July 26, 2010)
BPRE has a new name. Under the government rationalization plan or Executive Order 366, the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension was transformed into the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech). In its three decades of existence, the agency has gone twice changing its name from the National Postharvest Institute for Research and Extension (NAPHIRE) to BPRE to PHilMech.

The new PHilMech includes mechanization as one of the primordial concerns which in the past was just a small component of research development and extension (RD and E) work. Provisions under the Agriculture and Fishery Modernization Act (AFMA) mandates former BPRE to include mechanization in its programs. Now under PHilMech, mechanization will be mainstreamed into the RD and E agenda and will become a major thrust.

From the BPRE which focused in developing the postharvest sub-sector, it now expands its function to include mechanization, the precursor to modern agriculture. The twin mandate now complements government efforts in propelling a more competitive and efficient modernized Philippine agriculture.

PHilMech will continue to generate and extend new technologies, equipment, facilities and systems to reduce postharvest losses, maintain and enhance quality and ensure food safety. The new mandate of agricultural mechanization will adapt and utilize new methods and ways to increase agricultural productivity through on-time farm operations, reducing cost and drudgery and increasing crop intensity.

Gleaning from the approved staffing pattern and structure from the Department of Budget and Management, PHilMech has trimmed down its manpower compliment from 157 to 132. The tall organizational chart under BPRE was flattened to be more efficient and effective in charting future directions, implementing its thrusts and programs, and managing its resources. From department level it has now division as the functional units in the organizational structure.

PHilMech has now has eight research and development divisions, to wit: Agricultural Mechanization Division, Bio-process Engineering Division, Food Protection Division, Laboratory Services Division, Socio-economic and Policy Research Division, Technology Management and Training Division, Enterprise Development Division and Applied Communication Division. It has also three support divisions namely; Planning, Management and Information Technology Division, Finance Division and Administrative Division.

The rationalization plan of the former BPRE was approved by the Department of Budget and Management on November 5, 2009. It can be recalled that Executive Order 366 (RatPlan) was issued on October 4, 2004 to direct a strategic review of the operations and organizations of the Executive Branch. The RatPlan was aimed to transform the bureaucracy into an effective and efficient institution for the delivery of core public services. Several agencies under the Department of Agriculture have already implemented their RatPlan like the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), National Food Authority(NFA), and the Sugar Regulatory Administration(SRA).