SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ (PIA) — The provincial government of Nueva Ecija is exploring a partnership with the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) for the establishment of the first Provincial Food Processing Facility (FPF).
The initiative aims to add value to locally produced agricultural products, provide stronger support to farmers in terms of pricing and market access, and reinforce the province’s farming infrastructure.
During a meeting, Provincial Administrator Jose Maria Ceasar San Pedro presented the plan to establish the FPF, which will cater to high-value and other leading crops.
“Under Governor Aurelio Umali’s directive, we are here to seek CLSU’s help and craft a feasibility study and business plan for the proposed establishment of the FPF, considering that the CLSU is one of the leading universities in the country,” San Pedro said.
CLSU President Evaristo Abella welcomed the proposal, recognizing its importance to maximize the impact of the university not only within the local community but also across the province and the region.
“With the technical expertise of our faculty researchers and extension workers, we are in full support of this endeavor of the PGNE, and we are looking forward to this partnership, which hopefully will transcend politics and generations for the betterment of our province,” Abella affirmed.
In line with this, the Nueva Ecija Provincial Food Council recently passed a resolution approving and expanding the implementation guidelines of the Price Support Program for rice and other agricultural products.
This measure aims to address the continuous decline in the prices of rice and other commodities, which has a direct impact on the livelihood of farmers.
In his message, Umali reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to continue implementing programs focused on the welfare of the agricultural sector as part of its broader goal to ensure food security and development for all Novo Ecijanos.
“The steps we are taking now are not only to address current agricultural challenges but also to ensure sustainable progress for our farmers and the entire province. The participation of every sector is crucial to guarantee that the policies we develop are fair, inclusive, and effective,” Umali added.
Established in 2019, the Nueva Ecija Provincial Food Council is a multi-sectoral policy-recommending body that formulates concrete policies and recommendations to address the province’s needs in food production and food security. (CLJD/CNG, PIA 3-Nueva Ecija)
