Marcos inspects P67.48-M rice processing complex in Isabela
President Marcos inspects the Rice Processing Complex in Ipil, Echague, Isabela, with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr. and local officials on Thursday, March 6, 2025. | PHOTO: Villamor Visaya Jr. / Inquirer Northern Luzon
ECHAGUE, Isabela — President Marcos Jr. inspected the Rice Processing System II (RPS II) in this town on Thursday (March 6), acknowledging the province’s contribution as the second-largest rice producer in the country.
Marcos noted that the facility is part of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program, representing a P67.48-million investment.
The RPS II, operated by the provincial government, includes a multi-stage rice mill valued at P48.58 million with a capacity of three tons per hour, and five recirculating dryers capable of handling 12 tons, worth P18.9 million. The facility was launched in November 2024.
Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) Director Dionisio Alvindia said in an interview that the facility aims to reduce production costs and minimize postharvest losses, benefiting the local rice industry.
Alvindia added that the facility would help improve farmers’ incomes and ensure a more stable rice supply for consumers.
The RPS II benefits 70,556 farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) in Isabela, covering 66,303 hectares of rice land.
PhilMech plans to provide additional equipment, including silos for storing dried palay, a 30-ton dryer, a 5-8-ton rice mill, and a fortified rice machine. More satellite buying stations will also be established across the province.
President Marcos did not grant media interviews during his visit to Echague town. INQ
