LLANERA, Nueva Ecija — The Department of Agriculture (DA) Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), together with the World Bank, conducted field validation and inspection of an ongoing aromatic rice subproject to assess implementation progress and engage directly with farmer beneficiaries and project partners.
The subproject, titled “Establishment of Common Service Facilities and Marketing Enterprise for Aromatic Rice,” is implemented by the Villa Bar Primary Multipurpose Cooperative under the PRDP Scale-Up.
DA Field Office III Regional Executive Director and PRDP Project Support Office North Luzon Project Director Eduardo Lapuz Jr. said the project aims to transform farmers into entrepreneurs by enhancing the value and market potential of their produce.
“This project is rooted in a clear and forward-looking vision to elevate the quality and marketability of aromatic rice. Through this, our farmers will no longer just grow rice, they will become entrepreneurs,” he said.
The project has a total investment cost of about P65.3 million and directly benefits 40 farmer households, including women and members of Indigenous Peoples.
It includes the construction of a 597.84-square-meter facility that will house postharvest and processing equipment to address challenges in drying, handling, storage, and marketing of produce.
During the visit, Villa Bar Primary Multipurpose Cooperative Manager Sally Dacumos presented updates on the subproject, highlighting current accomplishments and ongoing activities.
Once operational, the facility is expected to reduce postharvest losses, lower production costs, and improve rice quality, allowing farmers to command higher market prices while providing shared access to machinery, storage, and marketing support.
Dacumos said the project helps improve their production and income.
“This is a big help to us and our members as it will improve our production and income,” she reiterated.
For her part, Llanera Mayor Marilou Lapuz-Pascual said the project is implemented well and already shows positive impact in strengthening the agricultural sector and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
As of March 2026, the project has reached 13.11 percent physical progress, surpassing its 9.05 percent target based on the latest monitoring data.
Meanwhile, World Bank Agriculture Economist Paula Beatrice Macandog said the visit forms part of the implementation support mission to better understand how the project is implemented on the ground, how the cooperative operates, and what challenges arise.
She emphasized that stakeholder feedback is essential to improve project delivery and ensure long-term sustainability.
According to DA-PRDP Central Luzon, the visit forms part of the World Bank’s ongoing support to the PRDP Scale-Up, aimed at ensuring infrastructure and enterprise projects translate into tangible economic gains for rural communities.