A total of Php42.7 million worth of various agricultural machinery and postharvest facilities were distributed to the province of Quirino under the 2022 and 2023 funds of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program, held in Cabarroguis, Quirino, on April 5, 2024.

 

Technologies delivered to the 17 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and local government units (LGUs) include one unit of a hand tractor; 11 units of four-wheel drive tractors; five units of walk-behind transplanters; five units of rice combine harvesters, and two units of recirculating dryers.

 

“Ang RCEF po ay malaking tulong sa mga small farmers. Kaya nais po namin na maipagpatuloy pa ang anim na taon nito para matulungan ang mga magsasaka sa buong Pilipinas,” said Ms. Leonaida M. Laitan, president of Mangandingay Farmers’ Association.

 

Leading the distribution is PHilMech Director IV Dr. Dionisio G. Alvindia together with FMFOD Division Chief May Ville B. Castro, Quirino Lone District Representative and Former Governor, Hon. Junie E. Cua, Provincial Agriculturist Florence C. Mangoba, DA-RFO II OIC-Regional Executive Director Rose Mary G. Aquino, Cabarroguis Municipal Mayor Representative Danuel Galgateng, Villar SIPAG Representative Lizle May Mandac. Also present are some of the municipal agriculturists of the province.

 

At present, a total of 142 units of agricultural machinery and postharvest facilities amounting to Php234 million have been delivered to Quirino since the RCEF Program implementation, benefiting 52 FCAs and LGUs. (FB, DA-PhilMech, April 5, 2024)