DA-PhilMech Turns Over PHP178.57 Million in Machinery and Equipment to Negros Occidental Farmers

Strategic Insights -

The Department of Agriculture - Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) handed over PHP178.57 million worth of machinery and equipment to 24 farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental on Tuesday. The assistance, sourced from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) 2024-2025 allocation, aims to enhance farm productivity, reduce production costs, and improve the overall competitiveness of rice farmers in the province. The turnover ceremony was held in Bago City, where Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bago City Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao acknowledged the continued support of both the DA and the provincial government to the Bagonhon farmers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The DA-PhilMech turned over PHP178.57 million worth of machinery and equipment to 24 farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental.
  • The assistance aims to enhance farm productivity, reduce production costs, and improve the overall competitiveness of rice farmers in the province.
  • The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) 2024-2025 allocation is the source of the PHP178.57 million assistance.
  • Bago City is the province's top rice-producing LGU, contributing about 30 percent to the total rice output of Negros Occidental.
  • The recipient FCAs and LGUs received 17 units of four-wheel drive tractors, 15 units of rice combine harvesters, four units of village-type rice mills, two units of precision seeders, and one drying system.
  • The mechanization and postharvest facility intervention aims to reduce production cost by PHP2 to PHP3 per kg and post-production losses of farmer-users by 3 percent to 5 percent.
  • Negros Occidental has received 1,053 units of various rice machinery and equipment amounting to PHP719.908 million for 205 FCAS and 23 LGUs, from 2019 to 2025 fund sources.
  • The RCEF Mechanization Program aims to enhance farm productivity, reduce production costs, and improve the overall competitiveness of rice farmers in the province.

Statistics:

  • PHP178.57 million: The total value of the machinery and equipment turned over to farmers in Negros Occidental.
  • 24: The number of farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and local government units (LGUs) that received the assistance.
  • PHP719.908 million: The total value of various rice machinery and equipment received by Negros Occidental for 205 FCAS and 23 LGUs, from 2019 to 2025 fund sources.
  • 1,053: The number of units of various rice machinery and equipment received by Negros Occidental.
  • PHP39.952 million: The total value of 17 units of four-wheel drive tractors.
  • PHP30 million: The total value of 15 units of rice combine harvesters.
  • PHP2.72 million: The total value of four units of village-type rice mills.
  • PHP3.46 million: The total value of two units of precision seeders.
  • PHP102.44 million: The cost of one drying system.

Sources:

  • "DA-PhilMech turns over PHP178.57 million worth of machinery to Negros Occidental farmers". Philippines News agency. 21 Oct 2025