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Pangasinan farmers get P270-M machinery from PhilMech

By Jerick James Pasiliao

February 19, 2021, 3:43 pm

<p><strong>MACHINERY DISTRIBUTION.</strong> Some 111 farmers' groups in Pangasinan receive machinery from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen town on Friday (Feb. 19, 2021). This is the second time that PhilMech distributed equipment in the province. <em>(Photo by Jerick James Pasiliao)</em></p>

MACHINERY DISTRIBUTION. Some 111 farmers' groups in Pangasinan receive machinery from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen town on Friday (Feb. 19, 2021). This is the second time that PhilMech distributed equipment in the province. (Photo by Jerick James Pasiliao)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) distributed on Friday here more than PHP270 million worth of agricultural machinery to various farmers' associations and cooperatives in Pangasinan.

Some 111 farmers’ groups in the six districts of Pangasinan received four-wheel drive tractors, precision seeders, combine harvesters, and mechanical dryers, among others.

In his speech during the event, PhilMech Facility Management and Field Operations Division chief Joel Dator said the equipment was part of PhilMech’s budget allotment under the Philippine Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

“This has been our second time to distribute farming equipment in Pangasinan. Last year, we were able to allocate PHP260 million from the 2019 fund,” he said.

Dator said PhilMech was able to give a total of PHP530 million since it started to provide “production technologies” in the province.

He said additional equipment would be given to more farmers’ associations and cooperatives in the coming years as part of the six-year implementation of the RCEF with a PHP10-billion annual allocation.

Dator added that PhilMech also conducts various training to farmer-beneficiaries on how to efficiently use the machinery for farming.

In an interview, provincial agriculturist Dalisay Moya said the beneficiaries have submitted necessary requirements for application and were evaluated in accordance with the PhilMech’s guidelines.

Meanwhile, farmer Marvin Malicdem, 36, a member of Bulalacao farmers’ organization in Mangatarem town, said the farm mechanization program of the government has a huge impact on their productivity.

Gumagaan ang trabaho namin at tumataas ang produksyon namin (Our work has become easier while we were able to increase the productivity of our products),” he said adding that this was their association’s second time to receive equipment from the national government.

Governor Amado Espino III expressed his gratitude to the PhilMech and the Department of Agriculture (DA) for providing assistance to Pangasinan farmers.

He also urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the equipment being given by the counterparts from the national government.

Also present at the event held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here were DA Ilocos regional director Nestor Domenden, Vice-Governor Mark Ronald Lambino, and Provincial Board member and committee on agriculture chair Liberato Villegas.

During the event, Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Senator Cynthia Villar delivered their speeches through audio-visual messages. (PNA)

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