BALINGASAG, Misamis Oriental (PIA)--The Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental (PGMO), and the First Community Cooperative (FICCO) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the implementation of its Rice Processing System II (RPS II) project under the RCEF-Mechanization Program at Barangay San Isidro, Balingasag, February 8.

The RPS II is targeted to serve around 500 hectares of rice area with a total project cost of P61.7 million, consisting of a 1-unit multistage rice mill worth P53.7 million with a milling input capacity of 2-3.5 tons per hour and 2 units of recirculating dryer amounting to P8 million (12 tons per batch).

DA-10 Officer in Charge and Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado disclosed that the project is funded under the mechanization component of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) as provided under RA 11203, otherwise known as the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

The goal of this part is to make rice farmers more productive, profitable, and competitive on a global scale by making it easier for them to get and use the right production and post-production mechanization technologies.

In line with the development of unified and integrated agriculture, DA regional field offices are tasked with issuing a certificate that will officially recognize and authorize farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) as eligible beneficiaries of the DA-RCEF program. (DA-10/PIA-10/Misamis Oriental)