ECHAGUE, Isabela (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the newly inaugurated Rice Processing System II (RPS II) facility established by the Department of Agriculture in Barangay Ipil, Echague, Isabela.
Inaugurated in November 2024, the facility was built with a budget of P67.48 million, funded through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program.
The facility features a multi-stage rice mill with a capacity of three tons per hour, valued at P48.58 million. It also includes five recirculating dryers, each with the ability to handle 12 tons, totaling P18.9 million.
The primary goal of the facility is to reduce production costs, minimize post-harvest losses, and help ensure a more stable rice supply while improving farmers’ income.
The Provincial Government of Isabela, which is the main beneficiary of RPS II, expects significant improvements in rice processing efficiency.
With 70,556 farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and cultivating 66,303 hectares of rice land, the system is expected to positively impact the region’s agricultural sector. (ALM/PIA Region 2)
