The Department of Agriculture (DA) has turned over a PHP60-million Rice Processing System II (RPS II) to farmers in Isabela as part of efforts to modernize the country’s rice industry.

In a statement on Monday, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the initiative aligns with the administration’s goal of transforming the agriculture sector into a more progressive and technology-driven industry under the Bagong Pilipinas vision.

“This is part of the government’s broader effort to modernize the rice industry and support the Bagong Pilipinas vision of a more progressive and technology-driven agriculture sector,” Laurel said.

The new RPS II, provided under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program, was turned over to the Isabela Seed Growers’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative on Nov. 6, 2025.

In particular, the state-of-the-art package includes a modern multi-stage rice mill and recirculating dryers, which are expected to increase milling efficiency, improve the quality of grain, and eventually help increase farmers’ profit.

The multi-stage rice mill has a capacity of 2 to 3 tons per hour, while the two recirculating dryers have a capacity of 12 tons each per batch.

In addition to the processing system, the DA also distributed PHP77 million worth of farm machinery, including tractors, transplanters, and harvesters, to qualified farmer beneficiaries in Isabela.

Among the provided packages are tractors, transplanters, harvesters, and other equipment. (PNA)