President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led an agriculture event in Nueva Ecija on Monday, honoring 43 outstanding farmers and stakeholders at the 50th Gawad Saka Awards, while turning over P95.1 million worth of farm machinery to local rice farmers. The dual celebration showcased the administration’s firm policy direction: transforming Philippine agriculture through modernization, science-based solutions, and farmer empowerment.
The awarded agricultural champions, recognized for innovation, sustainability, and leadership, received grants and prizes ranging from P150,000 to P3 million. Their recognition highlights the government’s broader vision to raise farming from subsistence to enterprise.
Central to the day’s announcements was the unveiling of a modern Rice Processing System (RPS) worth over P64 million, along with tractors, harvesters, and a cultivator totaling P31.1 million. Funded by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), these tools are expected to serve over 6,000 rice farmers across 10,000 hectares in Nueva Ecija, improving post-harvest quality and income.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized the strategic shift: “This isn’t just machinery—it’s the lifeline of a more modern, self‑reliant agriculture sector,” noting that the RCEF budget will triple to P30 billion by 2026 to support similar programs nationwide.
President Marcos also inaugurated 16 regional mobile soil laboratories, enhancing field-level agronomic support. Since its pilot, the Region III lab has already served 1,500 farmers across 42 municipalities, providing soil-health cards and fertility maps aimed at optimizing crop yield and input efficiency.
Additionally, the re-opening of an upgraded National Food Authority warehouse in Cabanatuan City, with a capacity for 193,000 bags, underscored efforts to improve palay pricing and storage.
Through awards, technology rollouts, and localized science solutions, the Marcos administration is cementing its agricultural transformation agenda—rooted in farmer recognition, food security, and inclusive economic progress.
