Isabela: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday inspected the Rice Processing System II (RPS II) in Barangay Ipil, Echague, Isabela. Marcos was accompanied by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and local officials during the tour of the facility.

According to Philippines News Agency, the state-of-the-art project, inaugurated in November 2024, is part of the government's Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program. The total investment in the project amounts to PHP67.48 million. This includes a multi-stage rice mill with a capacity of three tons per hour, valued at PHP48.58 million, as well as five recirculating dryers, each with a 12-ton capacity, worth PHP18.9 million.

The initiative aims to address key challenges in the local rice industry by reducing production costs and minimizing postharvest losses. The RPS II is expected to play a significant role in enhancing the competitiveness of the rice sector in the region.