Modern warehouses will rise in Leyte and Eastern Samar provinces this year to support the national buffer stocking program and local farmers through post-harvest mechanisms.
Each warehouse in Alangalang in Leyte and Oras in Eastern Samar costs PHP550 million and is equipped with dryers, millers and post-harvest facilities, said John Robert Hermano, NFA acting deputy administrator.
“The warehouse has a drying capacity of 270,000 bags every year and a milling capacity of 400,000 bags each year. This is really to support rice post-harvest activities in the region,” Hermano told the Philippine News Agency.
The official led the groundbreaking ceremony of the modern warehouse in this town on Friday. The same event was also held in Oras town last month.
NFA aims to complete the project after eight months. It intends to build 36 modern warehouses nationwide using a PHP5 billion budget allotted in 2024, according to Hermano.
Once completed, each of the modernized warehouses in the region can store around 360,000 bags or 18,000 metric tons of palay (unhusked rice).
According to the NFA, modernized warehouses will help them improve the current process of storing palay and milled rice, enhance supply management and reduce wastage.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our commitment to enhancing food security, supporting local farmers, and, of course, providing high-quality rice to our consumers,” NFA-Eastern Visayas regional manager May Sara Sabarre said during the event.
The construction of the modern facility is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to boost farmers’ productivity and advance food security targets. (PNA)
