Some 106-unit farm equip turned over
Some 106 units of various rice machineries and equipment amounting to P144.77M were distributed to the 57
Farmers’ Cooperatives Associations (FCAs) beneficiaries in the province of Bohol last November 8, 2024, at the
Poblacion Public Market Covered Court, Dagohoy, Bohol.
This would be under the 2023 and 2024 fund source of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)
Mechanization Program from Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).
The machineries being distributed were: Four-wheel Tractor Tier II (16 units), Four-wheel Tractor Tier III (16),
PTO Disc Plow (29), Levee Maker (8), Walk-behind Transplanter (2), Rice Combine Harvester Tier II Joystick (8),
Rice Combine Harvester Tier II FDS (8), Rice Combine Harvester Tier III (6), Recirculating Dryer 6T (2), Single
Pass Rice Mill Stationary (10), and Multi Stage Rice Mill 1,5tph (1).
During the opening program, Provincial Agriculturist Liza M. Quirog who represented Gov. Erico Aristotle C.
Aumentado as the keynote speaker thanked the PhilMech for the farm machineries and equipment given to the FCAs
which are very useful for them in helping the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) in shaping up the agricultural
landscape in our agricultural province.
Quirog congratulated the beneficiaries as she asked them to take good care of the machineries and equipment for
longer use of it.
She emphasized that the provincial government under the administration of Gov. Aris in strong collaboration
with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and PhilMech has always been looking at for the good of the agri-fishery
sector which is the backbone of our economy.
Senator Cynthia A. Villar, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture in her video message
also congratulated the FCAs beneficiaries in Bohol.
Sen. Villar lauded the role of the farmers and fisherfolks in ensuring food security in the country which are
always threatened by the effects of the climate change.
Others who gave the messages were: Balilihan Municipal Kagawad Abel Llorente in lieu of First District
Congressman Edgar M. Chatto; Assistant DA-7 Director Cirilo Namoc in behalf of RED, DA-7 Angel Enriquez;
and Dionisio G. Alvinidia, Director IV, PhilMech as Dagohoy Mayor Germinio C. Relampagos delivered his
welcome remarks.
According to the DA, the rationale of the program is that the PhilMech is the lead agency in the implementation
of the RCEF Mechanization Program. Based on the approved implementing rules and regulations of RA 11203 or
the Rice Tariffication Law, 50% of the Rice Fund or P5B annually for the period of six years (2019-2024) shall be
released to and implemented by the PHilMech as grant in kind rice farm equipment such as tillers, seedes, rice
planters, harvesters, threshers, mechanical dryers, rice mills, etc. to eligible FCAs and local government units
(LGUs).
The rice mechanization component aims to raise rice farmers’ productivity, profitability and global
competitiveness through strengthen access and use of appropriate production and postproduction mechanization
technologies.
The expected direct benefits of the mechanization and postharvest facility intervention specifically for the users
and beneficiaries of the projects are: a) reduction of production cost of farmer-users by P2-3 per kilogram using
precise, effective and complete system of mechanized production technologies; and b) reduction of postproduction
losses of farmer-users by 3-5% using appropriate and efficient postproduction technologies.
These are apart from the other benefits that can be derived such as boosting the local agricultural machinery
manufacturing industry and employment, widespread adoption of mechanization technologies, promotion of locally
fabricated technologies, yield increment, increasing the cropping intensity, timeliness of farm operation and reduction of labor, and additional income that can be generated from using the machineries and equipment. By Atoy
Cosap