In an effort to revive the operation of the Pangasinan Rice Processing Complex (RPC) in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, Department of Agriculture Secretary William “Manong Willie” Dar is set to visit the facility and will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Pangasinan Governor Amado I. Espino III for the resumption of the complex’s operations.
On his scheduled visit on May 28, 2021, Secretary Dar is going to witness the test-run of the rice mill and trading facility in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan to determine its viability after four years of cease operation.
A project that was established in CY 2010 thru the Korean International Cooperating Agency (KOICA) which provided P162.25M fund as grant, the RPC carried on its establishment and operation in partnership with the Department of Agriculture-National Rice Banner and the Provincial Government of Pangasinan with shared counterpart of P46.11 million (P20 million operating capital and P26.11 million other operating expenses) and P8 million, respectively.
One of the four RPCs established in the country situated in the top rice producing provinces, to include the provinces of Bohol, Davao and Iloilo, the Pangasinan RPC’s establishment aims to improve the efficiency of rice production and processing system in the region by the reduction of postharvest losses and improving the quality of rice for the Ilokano consumers.
A one-stop service center for milling, drying and storing for rice, the project is situated in an area of 1,700 sq.m. with a milling capacity of 25 tons/hr. or an equivalent of 50 cavans per hour. The drying capacity of the facility is at least 200 bags of wet rice using the five drying units or 1,000 bags per eight hour shift.
Officially launched and turned-over on Sept. 5, 2011 to the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, and initially managed by the then National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR), which the latter turned-over the management and operation to a Farmer Organization, the RPC has ceased operation due to some major issues and concerns.
Setting in motion the possible revival of the RPC’s operation, Secretary Dar’s visit in the project shall open doors of opportunities for rice farmers to have wider marketing access on their rice produce while at the same time, giving public consumers premium quality rice.
Other than his visit to the Pangasinan RPC, Sec. Dar will also lead the blessing, inauguration and turn-over of the Garlic Tissue Culture Laboratory, Crops Research & Development Center at the DA-RFO I’s Pangasinan Research and Experiment Center, in Tebag, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, the Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP) in Brgy. Mabini, Balungao, Pangasinan, and the Groundbreaking Ceremony of Poultry and Goat Multiplier Farm in Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, and other project site visits.
