Submitted by admin-r4b on
Palawan - Through the leadership of Palawan IMO Division Manager Engr. Armando L. Flores, and under the guidance of NIA MIMAROPA Regional Manager Engr. Ronilio M. Cervantes, with the assistance of the IDP implementers, four Irrigators’ Associations from the Malatgao River Irrigation System in Narra, Palawan, and 1 Irrigators’ Association from Dumaran, Palawan, recently received machinery from the Department of Agriculture through PHilMech under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program during the machinery turnover held in Narra, Palawan. The ceremony was graced by PHilMech Director III, Director Joel V. Dator, Palawan Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Romeo Cabungcal, Narra Mayor Hon. Gerandy Danao, and other notable guests.
The IAs under the Malatgao River Irrigation System are: Maligaya May Pag-asa Irrigators Association, Inc., Jorizan Malatgao RIS Irrigators Association, Inc., Paradise Teleng Farmers Irrigators Association, and Samahang Magsasaka ng Apoaporawan at Paradahan, Inc., while the IA under the Ilian II Communal Irrigation System is the Tanatanaen Farmers Irrigators' Association, Inc. The four IAs received 1 unit of 4-wheel tractor each, while one IA received 1 unit of a Rice Combine Harvester.
This machinery will be of great help to the 301 members of the said IAs, covering an area of 801.73 hectares. As per the DA’s website, the expected benefits of using farm machinery are to reduce the cost of production of rice by Php2-Php3/kg through the use of accurate, effective, and a complete set of machinery, and to reduce postharvest losses by 3-5% through the use of appropriate and efficient postharvest machinery.
- IDU Head Engr. Ave Jane Vargas-Alvarado