TACLOBAN CITY – Farmers in Northern Samar are set to benefit from nearly P17.5 million worth of modern agricultural machinery under the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program.
The assistance was formalized during a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing ceremony at the provincial capitol, where four farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) from rice-producing municipalities in the province officially qualified as beneficiaries.
The recipients include the Brgy. Talolora Farmers Association of Palapag, Robasan Farmers Irrigators Association of Las Navas, Laoang Mainland Farmers Association, and Bobolosan Multi-Sector Kilusang Pagbabago Organization of Laoang. Each group received a machinery package worth P4,369,000, consisting of four-wheel tractors and rice combine harvesters.
Governor Harris Ongchuan, who witnessed the MOA signing, underscored the significance of the program in boosting farm productivity, reducing costs, and strengthening food security in the province.
“This support from DA-PhilMech complements our local agricultural initiatives and provides farmers with the tools they need to compete and thrive,” Ongchuan said.
The DA-PhilMech’s RCEF Mechanization Program is part of the government’s long-term strategy to modernize the country’s rice sector. By providing access to mechanized equipment, the program seeks to improve operational efficiency, minimize post-harvest losses, and increase overall yields, especially in provinces where rice farming is a major livelihood.
With agriculture remaining the backbone of Northern Samar’s economy, local officials believe the machinery assistance will accelerate efforts toward rice self-sufficiency while ensuring resilience against climate challenges and rising production costs.
“This partnership shows what we can achieve when national and local governments, along with farmers’ groups, work together for sustainable agriculture,” Ongchuan added.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
