CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) -- A total of 54 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCA) and local government units (LGU) in the province of Pampanga received agricultural machinery from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech).

This initiative is under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program.

The P126-million worth of awarded grants include 22 units of hand tractors, 20 units of four-wheel drive tractors, 15 units of rice combine harvesters, 13 units of riding-type transplanters, two units of walk-behind transplanters, four units of precision seeders, one unit of mobile rice mill, five units of 12-ton recirculating dryer, one unit of six-ton recirculating dryer, and seven units of single pass rice mill.

In his message, Governor Dennis Pineda stressed that the assistance given to the agriculture sector of the province will significantly enhance farmers' yields.

"I want to thank the [Department of Agriculture], and [Senate Chairperson for the Committee on Agriculture] Senator Cynthia Villar for responding to the needs of our agri-sector, especially the farmer associations of Pampanga. I also want to thank our dear president [President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.]  for the support you have given to the province. This shows how much you love and care for Pampanga,” Pineda said. 

Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, on the other hand, emphasized the provincial government's dedicated efforts to provide essential assistance to the agricultural sector in the province.

"We, in the provincial government, remain united to help all of you. Your governor, vice governor, and board members will not stop approaching the senators to get funds for you in the province," she affirmed.

About 222 FCAs and LGUs have already benefited from the 448 agricultural machinery and postharvest facilities awarded in the province since RCEF’s implementation in 2019.

This is worth around P544 million in assistance. (CLJD/MJSC-PIA 3)