SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija (June 30, 2025) — In a stirring display of agricultural ambition and national pride, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led Monday’s ceremony, simultaneously turning over vital farm machinery to rice farmers and honoring the nation’s agricultural trailblazers at the 50th Gawad Saka Awards.
With this symbolic showcase, the Marcos administration underscored a vision: uplift farmers from subsistence to enterprise, anchored in modern technology and committed service.
At the core of the investment is a substantial package of machinery and equipment valued at P95.1 million, intended to bring transformative improvements to the agricultural sector in this key rice-producing province. Central to the initiative is a state-of-the-art Rice Processing System (RPS), which comprises a rice mill and two recirculating dryers with a combined value exceeding P64 million. The package also includes a four-wheel tractor, sixteen combine harvesters, and a cultivator with a total worth of P31.1 million.
These assets will serve more than 6,000 rice farmers cultivating nearly 10,000 hectares of rice lands in Nueva Ecija, enabling them to mill, package, and market their own produce—dramatically improving quality control and profit potential while slashing post-harvest losses.
Funded through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), the multi-stage rice mill can handle 2–3 metric tons of palay per hour while each dryer could process 12 metric tons per batch.
“This isn’t just machinery,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. “It’s the lifeline of a more modern, self‑reliant agriculture sector.” He added that the RCEF budget will triple to P30 billion in 2026 through 2031to bring similar systems and other inputs and assistance to other rice-producing provinces.
The day’s high notes included the Gawad Saka ceremony, which spotlighted 43 farmers, fishers, researchers, youth advocates, and institutions—national champions recognized with project grants and cash awards from P150,000 to P3 million. Their stories of grit, innovation, and sustainable farming practices served as a rallying cry: Philippine agriculture is evolving—boldly and inclusively.
Adding to the momentum, President Marcos also inaugurated 16 mobile soil laboratories—one for each region—designed to bring agronomic science straight into the field. Since its pilot release in December in Region III, the first lab has served over 1,500 farmers in 42 municipalities, issuing 362 soil-health cards and five fertility maps.
Soil samples, once overlooked, are now seen as strategic tools for boosting crop yields and maximizing input efficiency—key elements President Marcos considers vital to achieving food security and uplifting the lives of Filipino farmers.
In neighboring Cabanatuan City, the National Food Authority re-opened a refurbished warehouse after a P17.9 million facelift. Capable of storing 193,000 rice bags, the updated facility expands the NFA’s buffer-stocking capacity and allows farmers easier access to fair pricing for the palay they worked hard to produce.
The events in Nueva Ecija on Monday highlighted the clear goal of the Marcos administration: modernizing agriculture is no longer just a policy or a distant vision—it is happening now, in the hands of farmers, powered by science, and celebrated through meaningful recognition.
As tractors roll, awards are given, and labs go mobile, the Marcos administration is remaking countryside potential into economy-wide momentum. ###
