SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ (PIA) — A total of 194 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and local government units (LGUs) in Central Luzon received agricultural machinery under the second phase of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program.
Led by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech), the turnover included two units of four-wheel drive tractors and 20 units of combine harvesters.
PHilMech Director Joel Dator urged FCAs that have not yet benefited from the RCEF Mechanization Program to coordinate with their respective Department of Agriculture Regional Field Offices.
“Everyone is qualified to apply for the Mechanization Program,” Dator said, emphasizing that they do not select recipients when providing free machinery to eligible FCAs.
The machinery distributed to farmers in Central Luzon is just part of the 228 units of machinery scheduled to be delivered throughout the region this year valued at P497 million.
Remaining units will be distributed directly to beneficiaries through the PHilMech Luzon A Cluster’s onsite delivery.
Among the provinces set to benefit from tractors and combine harvesters are Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales.
Zambales Agri-Farmers Entrepreneurship Association Inc. Vice President Danilo Labrador said the four-wheel drive tractor is the first machinery that their association will receive.
“We are grateful for this opportunity. We will ensure the proper care and use of this machinery so it may benefit not only our association but also non-members,” Labrador added.
From 2019 to 2024, PHilMech has distributed 3,726 units of machinery worth P4.2 billion in the region under the implementation of RCEF Phase 1. (CLJD/CNG, PIA Region 3-Nueva Ecija)
