Senator Cynthia Villar congratulated the first batch of farmer-beneficiaries who received farm machinery and equipment under the law creating the P10 billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.
In a turnover ceremony held at the Philippine Center for Post Harvest Development and Modernization (PhilMech) Science City of Munoz in Nueva Ecija, 36 farmer-leaders representing about 6,000 members of farmer cooperatives and associations, received various kinds of farm machinery and equipment last June 4.
In a video message played during the event, Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, congratulated the farmer-beneficiaries who are now equipped with the needed tools to help bring down their cost of producing palay and improve their competitiveness.
“Ito po ang ating programa para mapababa ang inyong production cost at mapalaki ang inyong ani nang sa ganoon lumaki ang kita sa pagsasaka,” Villar said.
The farmer-beneficiaries received 31 four-wheel tractors, 13 rice combine harvesters and two riding-type mechanical transplanters.