?7.9-M Agri Facility Boosts Farmers’ Cooperative in Iloilo Town
The provincial government of Iloilo has turned over a ₱7.9 million warehouse project to the municipal government of Batad, Iloilo, strengthening support for local rice farmers.
The facility, located in Barangay Nangka, can store up to 10,000 sacks of palay, each weighing 50 kilograms. It also includes a milling component provided by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization.
The project complements an existing rice processing complex funded by the Department of Agriculture through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, as well as a drying facility also supplied by PhilMech.
“This is provincial government support for our rice program. Rice is our primary commodity in Iloilo, and we fully support our value chain,” said Felina Grace Basco, acting head of the Provincial Agriculture Office.
The facility will be managed by the Batad Multipurpose Cooperative, which has 216 members. It is expected to serve farmers not only in Batad but also in neighboring municipalities in northern Iloilo, depending on operational capacity.
Basco said the cooperative is preparing for the first cropping season around August, when the facility is expected to be fully utilized.
Under the setup, the cooperative will purchase palay from farmers, process it through drying and milling, and then sell the rice. Farmers may also opt to use only the drying services and store their produce elsewhere.
The cooperative has also secured ₱3 million in seed funding from Francis Pangilinan through the Sagip Saka Act, with plans to allocate ₱2.5 million for the purchase of a hauling truck.
In addition, the group is exploring access to loan programs through the provincial government’s cooperative office to further expand its operations.
Aside from the Batad project, the provincial government has earmarked ₱20 million this year for another rice processing warehouse in San Rafael town, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening the province’s rice value chain.
NPO News Team - Philippine News Agency - PR
