CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Aimed to increase rice production capacity and strengthen food security, the Pampanga Food Security Complex in Barangay Sta. Catalina, Lubao is being fast tracked to open within 2026.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Tuesday, Feb. 3 joined Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda, Vice Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda, and Mayor Esmeralda Pineda in an on-site inspection of the P414.8-million facility currently undergoing final site development works and equipment installation.
The Provincial Government of Pampanga allocated more than P270 million for site development, road concreting, and construction of the rice complex, while the Department of Agriculture provided P50 million for the procurement of machinery and equipment.
For its part, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) supplied two rice mills and five circulating dryers as counterpart support, along with six tractors, four harvesters, and four precision seeders to further assist farmers once the facility becomes operational.
The Pampanga Food Security Complex is a joint project of the DA, PhilMech, and the Provincial Government of Pampanga, designed as a one-stop postharvest service center equipped with mechanical dryers, rice milling systems, and modern storage facilities.
Once operational, the complex is expected to reduce postharvest losses, improve rice quality, and increase rice production efficiency, while helping eliminate middlemen and improve farmers’ incomes.
The DA said the project supports the government’s broader food security strategy by strengthening production, processing, and storage capacities, complementing affordable rice distribution initiatives such as the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program which was rolled out on the same day at the Lubao Municipal Government compound.
‘Benteng Bigas’ MOA
Coinciding with the rollout was signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Food Terminal Inc. and the provincial government assuring Pampanga of a steady and sustained supply of rice from the national government and specifically clarifying that no subsidy will be provided by the local government unit.
Under the agreement, rice priced at P33 per kilo will be sold directly to beneficiaries at P20 per kilo through the national government’s program.
The DA reported that there are currently 508 Benteng Bigas sites nationwide, serving more than 2.6 million families across 82 provinces.
In Pampanga, the program targets 350,000 households, benefiting more than one million residents.
The Benteng Bigas program is set to run until June 30, 2028, ensuring continued access to affordable, quality rice while supporting the government’s broader food security agenda. Marie Joy S. Carbungco/PIA-3
