AGRI MACHINERY. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel (center) inspects the Agricultural Machinery Design and Prototyping Center in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija on Thursday (Dec. 7, 2023). The AMDPC will provide farmers with affordable and locally manufactured machinery. (Photo courtesy of Department of Agriculture)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has launched the country’s first Agricultural Machinery Design and Prototyping Center (AMDPC) which aims to provide farmers with affordable and locally manufactured machinery.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel inaugurated the 2,000-square meter facility located at the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija on Thursday, according to a news release on Friday.
“This multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art facility can revolutionize the way we see agricultural machinery production today. With modern fabrication equipment and top engineering design and simulation software, what more can we not do, what more efficient machines can we not produce,” he said.
The AMDPC is valued at PHP370.545 million, of which USD5.78 million or PHP289 million is funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The Philippine government shared PHP81.545 million for the project.
The Korea Institute for Development Strategy and the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative also support the project.
It is deemed essential in accelerating the country’s mechanization by enhancing PhilMech’s capability to design, develop and manufacture agricultural machinery and prototypes.
Tiu-Laurel said the modern facility serves as an avenue for local manufacturers, agricultural engineers, and researchers from institutions and state colleges and universities to translate their creative minds into highly relevant agricultural machines, technology and equipment.
“I can imagine this center as the realization of ideas and a birthing place of solutions to improve the way we farm or fish today through the machines that can be improved and produced in this facility,” he said.
He lauded the Republic of Korea for its generosity in sharing knowledge, skills, and resources to the Philippines.
“Thank you for building with us a bridge that will help our country move towards the modernization and mechanization of the agriculture sector. We will always value our partnership,” he said.
The AMDPC is also expected to enhance the institutional networking between the Korean government and DA research agencies.
Tiu-Laurel was joined by Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa, KOICA vice president Lee Yun-Young, Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Umali, and Nueva Ecija Reps. Mikaela Angela Suansing, Joseph Gilbert Violago, and Rosanna Vergara. (PNA)
