Kalinga province wishes to extend the RCEF Program

The local government of Kalinga Province along with the farmers’ cooperative and association (FCA) recipients of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program have expressed their desire to extend the said program during the machinery turnover ceremony held today, February 23, 2023 at the Provincial Capitol of Kalinga, Tabuk City, Kalinga.

“If we may ask, we would like to ask for an extension of the RCEF program because kung may another six years pa tayo, mas marami pa pong farmers dito sa aming probinsya ang matutulungan. Iyan po ang hiling namin on behalf of our brothers and sisters na farmers dito sa Kalinga,” said Atty. John Paul Baguiwan, the representative of Governor James S. Edduba of Kalinga Province.

Farmer-recipients share the same desire, hoping to extend the program so more can benefit and avail of the free machines under the program, so they can become more mechanized in their operations.

“We would like to request to Ma’am Senator Cynthia Villar, we just started this 2022 yet the program is ending in 2024, we would like to request for an extension of the RCEF program para ma-extend pa ang mga tulong sa mga farmers,” said Graciana D. Tombaga, chair of the Holy Trinity Cathedral MPC.

“Ma-extend pa po sana para mas marami pa pong matulungan na farmers katulad po sa amin, nung nagkaroon ng RCEF, duon lang namin na-organized ang aming mga sarili into an association and become registered para maka-avail ng machines. Gusto namin ma-extend dahil gusto pa rin po naming makatanggap pa ng mga machines,” said Leila S. Apita, SAGPAT farmers association.

“Gusto pa po naming ma-extend ang programang ‘yan para mas matulungan pa po at mas marami pang magsasaka ang makinabang tungo sa pag-asenso ng magsasaka dito sa aming probinsya,” Frederick F. Aguban, bookkeeper of the PUR MPC, explained.

The province has received, through this machinery distribution, a total of Php20.51M worth of agricultural machinery grants given to 16 qualified FCAs in the province.

It is expected to benefit rice farmers from the municipalities of Pasil, Pinukpuk, Rizal, and Tabuk City.

Various government officials and municipal and city agriculturists grace the event. (Jett Subaba, FB, DA-PhilMech, February 23, 2023)