A PHP200 million worth rice processing plant will be constructed in La Union as early as this year that will benefit around 61,000 farmers.

This, after La Union Governor Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David and National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Larry Lacson signed on Aug. 7 a deed of usufruct for the use of a two-hectare lot of the provincial government for the use of the processing plant at Barangay Damortis in Sto. Tomas town, La Union.

“This will be the first in the province and it will be beneficial to the rice farmers. If this would be built, they need not go to private rice millers to process their produce but they may do it in the plant instead for free,” NFA La Union designated information officer Karen Bucaoto said in a phone interview on Thursday.

In a statement, Ortega-David said the rice processing plant would further boost the province’s rice production.

“Masaya po akong ibalita na mataas ang ating production ng bigas dito sa probinsya na umaabot ng 4.5 metric tons per hectare compared sa national produce average na four metric tons per hectare (I am happy to announce that the rice production in the province reached 4.5 metric tons per hectare (in 2023) compared to the national produce average of four metric tons per hectare),” she said. (PNA)