RICE FARMERS and dependents who completed training programs offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have totaled 25,904 to date, TESDA said.
The various training programs offered in field schools are authorized by Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, the goals of which include upgrading rice-planting know-how among farmers to make the industry more competitive.
TESDA said in a statement that some of the skills taught include production of rice from inbred seed, seed certification, farm mechanization, rice machinery operations, and drying and milling plant servicing.
“A number of the graduates also received training in carpentry, electrical installation and maintenance, welding and masonry which can help them in attending to their warehouses or their farm machinery especially when minor repair work is needed,” TESDA said.
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) will be needing additional personnel to fulfill its role in the newly passed Republic Act (RA) 11524, also known as the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act or Coco Levy Act.
In an interview with reporters last week, PHilMech Director Dr. Baldwin G. Jallorina assured that the agency, even if it currently has a lot on its plate, can perform its duty under RA 11524 as well as properly manage its annual allocation from the P100-billion Coco Levy Fund.
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However, he said the agency will have to request again from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for an additional budget which will be used specifically to hire additional personnel.
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Published April 1, 2021, 1:00 PM
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) is now preparing for next month’s bidding of P5-billion worth of farm machineries to be funded by Rice Tariffication Law’s (RTL) Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
In a briefing, PHilMech Executive Director Baldwin G. Jallorina Jr. told reporters that the agency wants to avoid another delay when it comes to the distribution of rice farm machineries under RCEF.
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That is why PhilMech is targeting to conduct this April the bidding and acquisition of the next batch of farm machines worth P5 billion.
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