To further boost post-harvest infrastructure, reduce losses for farmers, and strengthen national food security, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday announced that his administration will open 300 more palay processing centers nationwide this year.

Following his inspection of the newly constructed Rice Processing System (RPS) in Hamtic, Antique, the President said the government has already put up 152 such facilities across the country and plans to establish at least 300 more within the year.

“This year, we will construct 300-plus drying systems. I told the Secretary of Agriculture (Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.), I hope we cannot see farmers drying their palays on roads in the next few years, which are being run over by trucks and other vehicles. My heart bleeds for the rice farmers. Kawawa naman ‘yung mga pinaghirapan nilang mga ani,” the President said.

Marcos Jr. added that the government is modernizing the entire agricultural system by providing farmers with machinery, essential inputs, and crop insurance to help mitigate risks from natural calamities.

To strengthen the fisheries sector, the President said the Department of Agriculture is also providing motorized boats and other livelihood tools to fisherfolk.

“We will fortify our agricultural sector so that Filipinos are assured of enough food supply,” President Marcos emphasized.

“Whatever happens to the world, in case they lose rice, we are ready because we have enough,” he said.

Aside from inspecting the Hamtic RPS, the President also led the distribution of multi-million-peso worth of government assistance to farmers and fishermen in Antique.