Manila: Farmers in Maco, Davao de Oro, expressed gratitude to the national government on Tuesday afternoon for turning over PHP6.7 million worth of Kadiwa facilities and launching the PHP20 per kilogram rice program, "Benteng Bigas Meron Na," spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11).

According to Philippines News Agency, the PHP6.7 million package includes an upgraded Bagsakan Center, a cold storage facility, and a hauling truck under the Kadiwa Financial Grant Assistance Program. Giovanni Mondaya, a farmer from Maco, highlighted that the hauling truck will significantly ease the transport of produce to neighboring towns, enhancing market accessibility for local farmers.

The project is expected to benefit 12 farmers' associations and cooperatives in the Masara line barangays of Maco, covering around 500 farmer-members. Mondaya also expressed support for the PHP20 rice program, noting its importance amid rising fuel prices. The initiative aims to provide affordable rice to communities through the government's Kadiwa network.

Implemented by DA-11 Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division in partnership with the Maco local government unit, the project seeks to strengthen post-harvest handling and transport support, reduce losses, improve product quality, and establish stronger market linkages. Lawyer Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, DA assistant secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs, emphasized that the intervention enhances farmers' access to markets.

DA-11 Regional Director Macario D. Gonzaga underscored the importance of hauling support amid rising fuel costs. "With the increasing price of gasoline, transporting agricultural products has become more challenging. Through this support, we aim to ease that burden by providing a more efficient system for consolidation and delivery," Gonzaga said in a statement Wednesday.