Manila, March 6 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday inspected the state-of-the-art Rice Processing System II (RPS II) in Barangay Ipil, Echague, Isabela.

Marcos toured the modernized rice processing system with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and local officials.

Inaugurated in November 2024, the project is part of the government's Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program.

The total investment in the project is PHP67.48 million, which includes a multi-stage rice mill with a capacity of three tons per hour, valued at PHP48.58 million, and five recirculating dryers, each with a 12-ton capacity, worth PHP18.9 million.

The project aims to reduce production costs and minimize postharves...