President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday announced that the government will establish 300 additional palay processing centers nationwide this year to strengthen post-harvest infrastructure, reduce farmer losses, and secure the country’s food supply.
The President made the statement during his inspection of the newly built Rice Processing System 2 in Hamtic, Antique, operated by the Hamtic Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
The facility, which began operations in November, produces an average of 260 cavans of rice daily and supplies establishments across the province.
Marcos said the government has already built 152 similar facilities nationwide and aims to expand further.
“This year, magtatayo pa tayo ng mga 300 plus na drying system. Ang sabi ko kay secretary ng agriculture, sana naman ‘di na natin nakikita ‘yung nagpapatuyo ng palay sa kalsada, tapos sinasagasaan lang ng mga dumadaan na truck. Kawawa naman ‘yung mga pinaghirapan nilang mga ani,” he said, referring to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
The President emphasized that the administration is modernizing agriculture by providing farmers with machinery, inputs, and crop insurance, while also strengthening fisheries through the distribution of motorized boats and livelihood tools.
“Kaya patitibayin natin ang ating agricultural sector para tayo ay nakakasiguro sa ating food supply… Kung ano man ang mangyari sa buong mundo na nawalan ng bigas, tayo ho dapat lagi tayong mayroong sapat na bigas,” Marcos said.
During his visit, Marcos also led the distribution of government assistance to farmers and fisherfolk in Antique, including:
- ₱5 million KADIWA grants to the Hamtic LGU and ₱1.5 million to the cooperative
- ₱1 million to the University of Antique–Hamtic Campus under the Young Farmers Challenge program
- ₱32.1 million for livestock enterprise development and ₱2 million solar panel systems for farmer cooperatives
- ₱110.63 million worth of farm inputs to the provincial government
- A ₱10-million corn warehouse for Patnongon Multi-Purpose Cooperative
- ₱3 million for the High Value Crops Development Program
- 37,530 bags of inbred rice seeds worth ₱33 million from PhilRice
- ₱485,213 in crop insurance indemnity checks for farmers in Hamtic and San Jose de Buenavista
- ₱8.4 million worth of farm machinery for four farmers’ associations
- 11 fiberglass fishing boats worth ₱770,000 from BFAR
- ₱4.4 million worth of coconut nurseries from the Philippine Coconut Authority
The initiative forms part of the administration’s broader agricultural modernization drive aimed at boosting productivity, supporting rural communities, and ensuring long-term food security.