MALAYBALAY CITY (Feb. 10) – The 45 Farmer’s Cooperatives and Association (FCAs) in Bukidnon will be given a total of 270 units of agricultural machineries worth ₱150,190,000.00 from the Department of Agriculture Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech).

Mr. Hansel D. Echavez, supervising administrative officer of the Public Affairs, Information, and Assistance (PAIA) Division of the provincial Governor’s Office said, it will be held on Feb. 12 at Kaamulan Open Theater, Kaamulan Park, Malaybalay City.

He said machineries include 38 units of four-wheel tractor, 43 units of hand tractor, 63 units of floating tiller, two units of precision seeder, 23 units of walk-behind transplanter, three units of riding type transplanter, 30 units of rice reaper, 25 units of cobine harvester, 27 units of mechanical thresher, one unit of recirculating dryer and 15 units of mobile rice mill.

“The DA-PhilMech and the Provincial Government of Bukindon will distribute the said agricultural machineries to 45 identified FCA beneficiaries from the towns of Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Impasugong, Dangcagan, Kibawe, Damulog, San Fernando, Cabanglasan, Lantapan, Don Carlos, Kitaotao, Maramag, Quezon, Kalilangan, Talakag, Kibawe and the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia,” Echavez said.

He said beneficiary CFAs are reminded to send only two representatives to receive the machineries to maintain and observe the imposed minimum public health protocols against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

He added that the farm machineries’ distribution is in accordance with the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Mechanization Program.

The RCEF program, through the Rice Ratification Law, was created by the national government to improve the competitiveness and income of rice farmers amid the liberalization of Philippine rice marketing policy, if it is considered a yield and rice is the country’s food, which is why the government is pushing for it to fully achieve rice security in the Philippines.