PBBM Leads Opening of Pampanga Food Security Complex, Strengthens Farmers’ Postharvest Support

AGRI-NEWS | Farming Posted on 2026-07-24 11:18:57

LUBAO, Pampanga — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday inspected the newly completed Pampanga Food Security Complex (PFSC) in Lubao, Pampanga, highlighting the government's commitment to modernizing Philippine agriculture and strengthening the country's food security program.

The President was joined by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., former President and Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and Pampanga Governor Lilia "Nanay" Pineda during the inspection of the PHP465.76-million integrated postharvest facility.

Designed as a one-stop postharvest service center, the PFSC provides a complete range of services for farmers, including accreditation, palay procurement and receiving, mechanical drying, milling, storage, inventory management, packaging, and distribution.

The facility is expected to benefit approximately 30,995 rice farmers cultivating nearly 43,000 hectares of rice lands across Pampanga. It has an annual processing capacity of 136,800 bags of dried palay and 78,000 bags of milled rice, with each bag weighing 50 kilograms.

The complex features two warehouses with a combined floor area of 5,000 square meters. Warehouse 1 can accommodate up to 83,000 bags of milled rice, while Warehouse 2 has a storage capacity of 45,000 bags of dried palay.

To improve postharvest efficiency, the facility is equipped with six 6-ton mechanical dryers and two 12-ton mechanical dryers capable of drying up to 1,200 bags of palay daily. It also includes a 5,000-square-meter drying pavement that can handle approximately 1,400 bags of wet palay, while its rice mill has a milling capacity of four to five tons per hour with an estimated recovery rate of 65 percent.

Agriculture Secretary Tiu Laurel said the strategic location of the Pampanga Food Security Complex makes it a critical component of the country's food security network.

He noted that the integrated facility will streamline postharvest operations, reduce losses, improve operational efficiency, and help ensure better-quality rice reaches consumers.

"More or less, we're more ready than ever this harvest season," Tiu Laurel told reporters, expressing confidence that the facility will significantly strengthen the government's palay procurement and postharvest operations ahead of the September harvest.

He likewise emphasized the Marcos administration's continuing investment in agricultural modernization through expanded support for farm facilities and mechanization.

To further boost the complex's storage capability, around PHP240 million has been allocated through the General Appropriations Act, with support from Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, for the construction of two additional warehouses. Once completed, these facilities will provide storage for an additional 112,500 bags of milled rice and 75,000 bags of palay, further enhancing Pampanga's food security infrastructure.

During the visit, President Marcos also led the distribution of PHP17.7 million in Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to 21 SLP associations representing 630 beneficiaries. Each association received grants ranging from PHP600,000 to PHP900,000, while individual farmers were provided PHP3,000 each under the DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.

The President likewise met with representatives of 11 farmers' cooperatives and associations, whose members are beneficiaries of Pampanga's palay procurement initiative and the services provided by the Pampanga Food Security Complex.

The completion of the PFSC marks another milestone in the government's efforts to modernize Philippine agriculture, improve farmers' incomes, reduce postharvest losses, and reinforce national food security through modern infrastructure and integrated support services.

NPO News Team | PNA-PR

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