Albay receives Machinery Grant
The province of Albay received a total of Php33M worth of agricultural machines under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program during the turnover ceremony held yesterday, February 24, 2023, in Camalig.
A total of 77 units of farm machinery and postharvest facilities were distributed in the province which includes 23 units of hand tractor, 1 unit of floating tillers, 6 units of walk-behind transplanters, 1 unit of precision seeders, 33 units of rice reapers, 3 units of combine harvesters, 2 units of mobile rice mill, 1 unit of 6T recirculating dryer and 1 unit of 1.5tph multi-stage rice mill.
It is expected to benefit 24 Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) and 4 Local Government Units (LGUs) in the province namely, Sugcad Farmers Association, Sta. Misericordia Integrated Farmers Association, Baranghawon Bongabon Irrigators Association, Local Government Unit of Tiwi, Municipal Local Government Unit of Poblacion, Caguiba Small Water Impounding System Association, Tabontabon Farmers Association, Mabini Pinaglaban Irrigators Association, Association of United Farmer, Namantao Daraga Irrigators Association, Arimbay Irrigators Association, Bariis Farmers Association, Cagbacong Farmers Association, City Government Unit of Legaspi, Santa Cruz Farmers Association, Busay Gintong Palay Farmers Association, Mahaba Farmers Association, Quipia Agrarion Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative, Farmers Field School Palayam Farmers Association, Santiago Great Farmers Association, Busac United Farmers Association, Bagumbayan Oas Agriculture Cooperatives, Panala Farmers Association, Municipal Local Government of Duran, Hibiga Irrigators Association, and Albay Seed Producers Multi-purpose Cooperative.
Engr. Niño D. Bengosta, Cluster Head of Luzon C of the Facility Management and Field Operation Division (FMFOD) of PHilMech, encouraged the FCAs to properly use the machinery grants, and he shared his hope for an equal utilization of machines among the members of the FCAs.
In her message, Albay Provincial Agriculturist Cheryll Rebeta, believes that mechanization can resolve the lack of human resource in farming.
“Pwede po ba sa pag-uwi ninyo sa inyong lugar ay ipagbigay alam ninyo yung mga impormasyon sa mga kalapit na kooperatiba o magsasaka na sa programa ng RCEF ay libreng makukuha ang mga makinarya nang sa gayon ay mahikayat silang bumuo at mag-apply dito. Dahil para sa akin ito ang nakikita kong solusyon sa ating problema sa kakulangan ng mga manggagawa sa bukid” Provincial Agriculturist, Cheryll Rebeta said.
The RCEF, which was created through the Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, aims to improve rice farmers’ competitiveness and income amid the liberalization of the Philippine rice trade policy. (Mark Gutierrez, FB, DA-PhilMech, February 25, 2023)
