Philippines' PHP 74.4-Million Rice Processing Center Begins Operations, Serving 4,060 Farmers

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 17, the Philippine Department of Agriculture inaugurated a PHP 74.4-million Rice Processing System III facility in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, and turned it over to the Cabanatuan City government for operation through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization. Funded by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund's Agricultural Mechanization Program, the project is expected to serve 4,060 rice farmers and cover approximately 8,976 hectares of rice fields.

The project is equipped with a multi-stage rice processing line with a paddy processing capacity of 4 to 5 tons per hour, as well as 3 recirculating grain dryers, each with a single-batch drying capacity of 12 tons. The facility can complete paddy drying and processing at the same site, providing postharvest handling capacity for farmers around Cabanatuan.

The project has obtained the relevant storage registration from the Philippine Bureau of Plant Industry. The Cabanatuan City Rice Processing Complex is registered at Barangay Macatbong, and the relevant registration took effect on September 3, 2026.

The project is implemented by the Philippine Department of Agriculture under the mechanization program of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. Through PHilMech, the program provides agricultural machinery and postharvest equipment to eligible farmer cooperatives, associations, and local government units. The amended Rice Tariffication Law of the Philippines has extended the mechanization program to 2031, with annual funding increased from PHP 5 billion to PHP 9 billion.

Nueva Ecija is one of the Philippines' major rice-producing provinces. The processing center inaugurated this time directly covers 8,976 hectares of rice fields, and the added drying and milling capacity will be used for centralized handling during the local rice harvest season. After the project is fully operational, farmers in Cabanatuan can complete paddy drying, processing, and finished-product handling locally.