The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) has distributed machinery worth PHP315 million under the mechanization program of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) that will benefit 142 qualified farmers cooperatives and association (FCAs) in the province.

In a statement Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said some 238 units of machinery included four-wheel drive tractors, rice combine harvesters, hand tractors, power take-off driven disc plows/harrows, riding-type transplanters, walk-behind transplanters, among others.

The beneficiaries were from the towns of Agno, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini, Sual, Aguilar, Basista, Bugallon, Labrador, Lingayen, Mangatarem, Bayambang, Calasiao, Malasiqui, Mapandan, Sta. Barbara, Manaoag, Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Bautista, Binalonan, Laoac, Pozorrubio, Sison, Villasis, Asingan, Balungao, Natividad, Rosales, San Manuel, San Nicolas, San Quintin, Sta Maria, Tayug, and Umingan; and Alaminos, San Carlos, and Urdaneta cities.

The machineries distributed were procured under the 2021 funds and the excess of 2019 and 2020 funds as a result of the competitive biddings.

PHilMech director Ronaldo Sebastian Reyes assured the farmers that the machines are brand new and the latest models.

Governor Amado Espino III, in his speech during the turn-over ceremony on Monday, thanked President Rodrigo Duterte and the DA for the programs such as the RCEF that benefit the farmers in the province.

“Through this program, the needs of the farmers (for mechanization) are met,” he said.

The distribution of the machinery aims to increase the harvest and income of the farmers by using the appropriate farm mechanization technologies and equipment from planting to harvesting.

The national government has implemented the RCEF to provide assistance to farmers as compensation for the projected loss of farm income arising from the rice tariffication.

Since the project was implemented in 2019, some PHP940 million worth of farm machinery and equipment were given to Pangasinan, according to the Provincial Information Office. (PNA)