Manila: The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Ilocos Norte has initiated the advance procurement of agricultural machinery valued at approximately PHP 9.3 million, slated for deployment in the upcoming year. This strategic move marks an important step towards the modernization of the province's agricultural infrastructure.

According to Philippines News Agency, Rommel Aquino, the chief agrarian reform program officer of DAR Ilocos Norte, confirmed the bid opening on Wednesday. Aquino emphasized the significance of this procurement in enhancing the capabilities of local farmers and addressing the challenges posed by climate change. The procurement list includes a variety of machinery such as one combine harvester, three four-wheel tractors, one transplanter, five water pumps, two hand tractors, five power tillers, and essential fertilizers.

The funding for this initiative is sourced from the 2026 Climate-Resilient Farm Productivity Support project. The goal is to equip qualified agrarian reform beneficiary organizations with the necessary tools to boost agricultural yields and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. Aquino further explained that the eligibility of these organizations is determined by their ratings in DAR's information technology-enabled assessment system, which evaluates organizational maturity to identify the requisite support services.