CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija (September 17, 2026)—The Department of Agriculture on Thursday inaugurated a P74.4-million rice processing facility in the country’s main rice-producing province, giving 4,060 farmers in Cabanatuan access to modern drying and milling equipment aimed at reducing postharvest losses and improving farm incomes.
The Rice Processing System III, funded under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program, was turned over to the City Government of Cabanatuan through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech).
The facility includes a state-of-the-art multi-stage rice mill with a capacity of 4-5 tons per hour and three recirculating dryers, each with a 12-ton per batch drying capacity, providing farmers with greater access to postharvest processing capacity closer to their farms. The project will benefit farmers cultivating about 8,976 hectares of rice land in Cabanatuan.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the value of such investments should ultimately be measured by their impact on farmers and their families. ### (Photos by DA – OSEC Comms)
