PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday visited a newly completed P94.8-million rice processing system (RPS) in Hamtic, Antique.
“This is for our farmers, to make their livelihoods better. We need to take care of them [since] they [produce the food that] feeds us. That’s why these facilities are needed,” Marcos said in Filipino.
“We also brought tractors with two large harvesters,” the president added.
The RPS, located in Barangay Poblacion 2 in Hamtic town, is part of the administration’s efforts to mechanize farming, increase farmers’ income in Antique, one of the Visayas’ major rice-producing provinces, and ensure national food security, a key pillar of the government’s agriculture agenda.
The equipment allows farmers to efficiently mill, dry, clean, and sort rice, reducing post-harvest losses and improving grain quality.
It can produce a daily average of 260 sacks of rice.
The RPS is composed of two mechanical dryers that can handle six tons of rice per batch and a multi-stage mill with a capacity of two to three tons per hour. It also comes with a hauling truck, forklift, weighing scale, and moisture meter.
The facility was built by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech), and funded by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund program. The warehouse and operations building and additional equipment package were financed by the National Rice Program.
Assistance
During the visit, Marcos likewise led the handover of various assistance to Antique farmers and fisherfolk.
Some P110.63 million worth of assorted farm inputs was given to the Antique provincial local government; a corn warehouse worth P10 million to the Patnongon MPC; and P3 million for the High Value Crops Development Program to various recipients.
The Philippine Rice Research Institute provided 37,530 bags of inbred rice seeds worth P33 million to the Antique provincial government, while the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. turned over 70 checks worth P485,213 to Hamtic and San Jose de Buenavista farmers to recover losses in crop damage caused by weather disturbances.
The DA-Western Visayas provided Kadiwa financial grants to the Hamtic local government and Hamtic MPC worth P5 million and P1.5 million, respectively.
The DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources gave 11 units of 20-footer fiberglass plastic-reinforced boats to fisherfolk beneficiaries. The boats have marine engines and accessories, and cost P770,000.
Several farmers’ and producers’ groups were also given agricultural machinery including four-wheel tractors and rice-combine harvesters to support land preparation and harvesting.
Support for livestock and poultry development came in the form of multiplier farms for cattle, carabao, native pigs, goats, chickens, and ducks worth P32.1 million under the DA’s Livestock Economic Enterprise Development Program.
In addition, the Philippine Coconut Authority gave over P4.4 million worth of community-based coconut nursery to the Hamtic Coconut Farmers Marketing Cooperative.
Cooperatives in Patnongon and Belison towns received two units of photovoltaic solar power systems worth P2 million to help lessen energy costs and enhance the sustainability of farm operations.
The University of Antique-Hamtic Campus received P1 million in Young Farmers Challenge-Business Development Assistance.
The DA described the assistance package as taking a value-chain approach that combines production, post-harvest, mechanization, and energy efficiency to increase farmers’ income and improve food security. Kristina Maralit, Giselle P. Jordan
© Copyright 2025 The SSResource Media.
All rights reserved.