The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office in coordination with the Sixth Legislative District of Pangasinan led by Congressman Tyrone D. Agabas spearheaded the Awarding and Turn-Over Ceremony of farm machinery and Equipment under Farm mechanization Project in District 6 of the Province of Pangasinan held at San Nicolas, Pangasinan.
Congressman Tyrone D. Agabas, Department of Agriculture Region 1 Director Nestor Domenden, PhilMech Director Baldwin Jallorina, and Former Congresswoman Marlyn Primicias-Agabas led the distribution of :
1. Nine (9) Units Rice Combine Harvester;
2. Thirty-Eight (38) Units Four-Wheel Tractor;
3. Twenty-Four (24) Units Hand Tractor;
4. Two (2) Units Riding Type Transplanter;
5. Four (4) Units Walk Behind Transplanter; and
6. One (1) Unit Mobile Rice Mill
Regional Director Domenden, said Pangasinan, being the rice bowl of the Ilocos Region, supplies rice not just for the region but also to Region 3 (Central Luzon), Cordillera Autonomous Region, and Manila.
He added the initial distribution served as the “opening salvo” of more agricultural machineries that the district will receive from the agriculture department.
PhilMech Director IV Baldwin Jallorina said the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) is a six-year program of the national government from 2019 to 2024 that aims to further improve agriculture in the country.
The national government has implemented the RCEF to provide assistance to farmers as compensation for the projected loss of farm income arising from the rice tariffication.
In his message, Pangasinan 6th District Representative Agabas emphasized the importance of farm mechanization program to expedite farm operations and improve farmer’s resiliency against climate change.
Meanwhile, host Municipal Mayor Alicia Primicias-Enriquez thanked the agriculture department for all its support to the Pangasinense farmers, underscoring the need to make the sector as competitive as possible to improve food production.
Three (3) ARBOs of San Nicolas were included in the distribution of farm machineries. Ubbog Iti Daya Multi-Purpose Cooperative received one unit of Four Wheel Tractor, San Rafael-Lungao Farmers Irrigators Association, Inc. received one unit of Four Wheel Tractor and one unit of Rice Combine Harvester, and Northeren Ambayoan Tanggal Lakay Irrigators Association, Inc. also received one unit of Four Wheel Tractor.
Mr. Juan Valencia, chairperson of San Rafael-Lungao Farmers Irrigators Association, Inc., profusely thanked the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), PhilMech and Office of the Congressman, for the farm equipment.
“The farm equipment are a big boost in our farms from land preparation up to delivery of our products to the market.”
Also in attendance were Sangguniang Bayan headed by Vice Mayor Alvin Bravo, Natividad Municipal Mayor Ruby Rafael, Balungao Municipal Mayor Riza Peralta, San Manuel Municipal Mayor Kenneth Perez, Asingan Municipal Mayor Carlos Lopez, Sta. Maria Municipal Mayor Julius Ramos, Tayug Municipal Vice-Mayor Lorna Primicias, Councilor Ariel Fererria of San Quintin, and Mr. Nestor Batalla of the Province of Pangasinan.
