The government plans to construct more than 300 palay processing centers nationwide this year to boost farmers’ incomes and improve the country’s food security, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced Monday.
Marcos said the additional facilities will strengthen post-harvest infrastructure, helping farmers reduce losses and improve the quality of their produce.
“This year, magtatayo pa tayo ng mga 300 plus na drying system. Ang sabi ko kay Secretary ng Agriculture, sana naman hindi na natin makita ‘yung nagpapatuyo ng palay sa kalsada na nasasagasaan lang ng mga truck. Sayang ang pinaghirapan ng ating mga magsasaka,” the President said.
He added that the government is pursuing the modernization of the agricultural sector by providing farmers with farm machinery, key inputs, and crop insurance to help protect them from losses caused by natural disasters.
Marcos also noted that the Department of Agriculture (DA) continues to support fisherfolk by distributing motorized boats and other livelihood equipment.
The President made the remarks during his visit to a newly built rice processing system in Barangay Poblacion 2, Hamtic, Antique, highlighting the administration’s push for farm mechanization and food security.
The facility, operated by the Hamtic Multi-Purpose Cooperative, is equipped with modern technology for palay drying, milling, and storage. It began operations last November and now produces an average of 260 cavans of rice per day.
