TWO years after the enactment of the Rice Trade Liberalization (RTL) law, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) has delivered 50 percent of its machine distribution target using its 2019 and 2020 funds.
PhilMech data obtained by the BusinessMirror showed the agency has distributed a total of 7,947 units of farm machinery and equipment as of March 21, which is half of its target of 15,918 for its combined 2019 and 2020 rice competitiveness enhancement fund (RCEF).
Since 2019, PhilMech receives half of the annual P10-billion RCEF created by Republic Act 11203 or the RTL law.
PhilMech data showed the agency has the highest percentage delivery for combine harvester at 76 percent as it has distributed 1,304 out of 1,717.
This was followed by delivery of four-wheel tractor at 75 percent completion: PhilMech was able to distribute to farmers 2,040 units of the farm machinery out of its 2,709 combined target.
PhilMech also posted above 70-percent delivery rate for precision seeder (74 percent) and riding type transplanter (72 percent). PhilMech data showed it delivered, as of March 21, 108 precision seeders out of its target 146 and 296 riding-type transplanters out of the 413 target.
For rice reapers, PhilMech delivered 1,087 units out of its 1,690 target or a 64-percent delivery rate while it was able to deliver 2,236 hand tractors out of the 4,316 target for such unit.
PhilMech data showed that it was only able to distribute 28 percent or about 545 out of the 1,947 floating tillers it aims to distribute under its combined P10-billion fund.
PhilMech data also showed that it recorded a 21-percent delivery rate of as March 21 for the distribution of walk behind-type transplanters (312 units out of 1,454 units).
For axial flow thresher, PhilMech has been able to distribute 5 axial flow threshers out of its target of 1,174 units; and 14 of 312 rice mills funded by the 2019 and 2020 RCEF budget.
PhilMech data showed it has not been able to deliver a single unit of mobile recirculating grain dryer, recirculating dryer petroleum fueled, single pass rice mill and multi-pass rice mill.
Using its combined 2019 and 2020 RCEF funds, PhilMech plans to distribute 6 mobile recirculating grain dryers, 28 recirculating dryers (petroleum fueled), 2 single-pass rice mills and 302 multi-pass rice mills.
In a statement last week, PhilMech said it has “stepped up” its distribution of farm machinery.
“As the agency accelerated its bidding, awarding and purchase of various farm machines, our field personnel and suppliers also stepped up the delivery of farm machines to qualified FCAs (farmers cooperatives and associations) at no cost as mandated by the RA 11203,” PhilMech Executive Director Baldwin G. Jallorina said.
“This was done despite the varying degrees of lockdowns all over the country. The stepped-up distribution of farm machines to FCAs also show that more and more rice farmers and groups are realizing the benefits of mechanizing their operations, and adopting post-harvest technologies, as they are more than willing to be recipients of the farm machines distributed at no cost to them,” he added.
In January, BusinessMirror published a Broader Look story on the challenges and future of the government’s RCEF-backed farm machinery distribution tack (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/01/07/mechanization-moves-agriculture-sector-slow-but-sure-to-modern-farming/).
A 72-page DA paper reviewing the RTL law 18 months after its enactment explained that the mechanization component was delayed “due to the complicated and cumbersome procurement process as well as the need to address failures in the past on the provision of public funds for machinery.”
PhilMech also saw delays in receiving its budget, curtailing its conduct of activities related to the RCEP mechanization component.
The P5-billion fund for the RCEP mechanization component in 2019 was carried over to 2020, with initial distribution of machines only happening in June despite promises that it would be completed as early as the first quarter.