President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of a ₱61.7 million rice processing system (RPS) in Guagua, Pampanga on Friday, the fifth such facility built in the province under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
Dubbed “RPS 2,” the high-tech facility features a 3-ton-per-hour multi-stage rice mill and modern components such as a pre-cleaner, huller, mist polisher, and automatic packing machine. It also includes two 12-ton recirculating dryers and an air-conditioned control room, enabling efficient and weather-resilient operations.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who joined the President, emphasized the facility’s role in boosting productivity and farmer incomes. “This underscores the Marcos administration’s commitment to modernizing postharvest systems,” he said.
Operated by local farmers’ cooperatives, the five RPS units in Pampanga are expected to benefit over 36,000 rice farmers cultivating nearly 60,000 hectares. Nationally, 151 RPS units have been completed under RCEF 1.0—145 during the Marcos presidency—highlighting a strong push for agricultural modernization.
Under the 2025 RCEF Mechanization Program, Pampanga farmer groups will also receive 28 four-wheel tractors and 13 rice combine harvesters. RCEF, funded through the Rice Tariffication Law, aims to cut production costs by ₱2 per kilo and reduce postharvest losses by up to 5 percent, significantly improving farmer profitability.
