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

NEWS STORIES

PHilMech celebrates 38th anniversary
by Gladys May Z. Carganilla (June 9, 2016)
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) celebrated its 38th anniversary on May 23-27, 2016 at its main headquarters in the Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija.

With the theme, “Addressing Global Challenges in Agricultural Mechanization,” the agency highlighted the PHilMech-generated technologies and systems to create awareness among the stakeholders present during the said event.

Amidst the challenges faced by the agricultural sector due to urbanization and globalization, Department of Agriculture Sec. Proseso Alcala sent his message to the stakeholders through Dir. Rex L. Bingabing. He said, “Kayang-kaya ninyong makisabay sa mabilis na takbo ng teknolohiya upang tuluy-tuloy na maisulong ang modernisasyon ng ating sakahan.” He stressed that without mechanization, Filipino farmers can never be competitive.

The secretary commended PHilMech researchers and stakeholders for responding to the challenges of agricultural mechanization and for introducing innovations to the Philippine agriculture for the past five years.

In support to Sec. Alcala’s message, Dir. Bingabing said that PHilMech researchers should think global to advance the technologies and to address issues such as climate change.

Another highlight of the event was the “Technotalakayan” which featured Dr. William Dar’s lecture on the global trends in agri-fishery mechanization and the presentation of Mr. Kim Bo-Suk on the experiences of Republic of Korea on agricultural mechanization. Dr. William Dar is the President of Inang Lupa Movement, Inc. while Mr. Kim Bo-Suk is the Philippine Representative, Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO).

The different technologies developed by PHilMech were also exhibited during the event. Some of the machines displayed were mini-combine harvester, tractor-mounted rice transplanter, brown rice huller, cassava digger, impeller rice mill, compact corn mill, coco water pasteurizer/chiller and ylang-ylang oil extractor, among others.

In the afternoon, Sec. Alcala attended the special program and visited the exhibits.

“Whatever we are doing here is for the Filipino farmers, tulong natin ito sa pamayanan at sa ekonomiya ng ating bansa,” Sec. Alacala said during his afternoon message. He also asked PHilMech researchers to continue innovating for agricultural modernization and to support the programs that will be implemented by the next department secretary.