Some P315 million worth of agricultural machinery were distributed to farmers in Santa Barbara, Pangasinan.
In a statement, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) said the 238 units of machinery handed over to farmers cooperatives and associations include four wheel drive tractors, rice combine harvesters, hand tractors, PTO (power take-off)-driven disc plow/harrow, riding-type transplanter, walk-behind transplanter, precision seeders, rice reapers, recirculating dryers, mobile rice mill, multi stage rice mill and destoner and rice threshers.
The distribution was made under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program.
RCEF, with an annual budget of P10 billion, was created under Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law.
PHilMech said the machinery distributed in Pangasinan were procured under the 2021 funds and the excess of 2019 and 2020 funds through competitive bidding.
PHilMech deputy director Ronaldo Sebastian Reyes assured farmers that the machines were brand new, branded and the latest models. He also asked the recipients to become good stewards of the machines they received.