The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to complete 27 new rice processing facilities by the end of 2025 to modernize the country’s postharvest systems and strengthen the rice supply chain.
These centers form part of the Marcos administration’s target of 145 Rice Processing Systems (RPS) through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) under the ₱30-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. described the initiative as a “legacy investment” that will equip farmers with integrated drying, milling, and processing facilities.
As of September, 118 RPS units have already been established in key rice-producing provinces, with another ₱3.3 billion allocated for 300 additional drying centers over the next three years.
The DA said the upgrades aim to boost rice drying capacity by up to 40 percent during the wet season and cut postharvest losses, which currently reach as high as 16 percent.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 17, 2025
