Ilocos Sur farmer coops receive P32M equiment

TWENTY-FOUR farmer’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and local government units (LGUs) in Ilocos Sur were the latest recipients of agricultural equipment under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (PhilMech)-Mechanization Program.

The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) said that P32.49 million worth of farm equipment was distributed to the beneficiaries at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, on Tuesday.

Distributed were three four-wheel drive tractors, 15 disc plows, eight levee makers, two precision seeders, seven combine harvesters, one 6-ton recirculating dryer, and two single-pass rice mills.

PhilMech said that Ilocos Sur has received P317.15 million of agricultural equipment under the RCEF-Mechanization Program since 2019.

“Covering 2019-2024 fund resources of the RCEF- Mechanization Program, the province has also obtained a total of 556 units of various rice production and post-production facilities amounting to P317.15 million, benefiting 116 FCAs and LGUs,” the agency said.

For his part, PHilMech Executive Director Dionisio Alvindia emphasized the importance of beneficiaries maintaining the agricultural equipment given to them at no cost.

“We are your partners, and we are providing equipment for all of you to become competitive in farming,” he added.

Engineer Domingo Miranda of the PhilMech Facility Management and Field Operation Division said that more LGUs in Ilocos Sur will get their agricultural equipment once the proposed extension of the RCEF-Mechanization Program is approved.

“Ilocos Sur has 34 municipalities and cities, but as of now, only 12 LGUs have been given farm machines under the RCEF-Mechanization Program. But with the proposed extension of the RCEF-Mechanization Program, all municipalities and cities into palay [unmilled rice] production will get their farm machines at no cost,” he said in Filipino.