BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) turned over to the provincial government a QR Printer and supplies to be used for the registration of ownership of agricultural and fisheries machines and equipment held in the capital town on November 28, 2024.
The activity brought together stakeholders from the different municipal local government units, the offices of the provincial agriculturist, provincial veterinarian and provincial agricultural and biosystems engineer, and the Mountain Province (MP) Agricultural Programs Coordinating Office.
PhilMech’s Science Research Specialist Louie A. Gonzales said that the provincial government, through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and the Office of the Provincial Agriculture and Biosystems Engineer, was chosen by the PhilMech and the Department of Agriculture- Regional Agricultural Engineering Division-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-RAED-CAR) as one of the model provincial government units relative to the full implementation of the Registration of Ownership of Agricultural and Fisheries Machines and Equipment System (RAFMES) in the country.
According to him, Mountain Province was chosen as one of the provincial government models because of its steadfast support to the municipal government units in terms of agricultural development and manpower availability.
As a basis of registration, Gonzales shared the features of the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Law and the (DA-DILG) Joint Memorandum Circular 2018-02 or the “National Guidelines on the Registration of Ownership of Agricultural and Fisheries Machinery and Equipment.” According to him, the registration will establish ownership and will create a database of such machinery and equipment for planning and monitoring purposes in accordance with existing laws.
Moreover, Science Research Specialist Gladys D. Delizo said that RAFMES is a web-based information system designed for the registration of ownership of agricultural and fisheries machines and equipment in the country. To establish Mountain Province as a provincial government model , she said that a memorandum of agreement will be signed by the PhilMech, DA-Regional Field Office-CAR and the provincial government.
Under Article V, Section 9 of RA 10601 or the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Law, the provincial governments shall maintain a provincial-level registry of agricultural and fisheries machinery and equipment; the DA-RAED shall maintain a registry of agricultural and fisheries machinery and equipment at the regional offices; and the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Engineering shall maintain a national registry of all registered agricultural machines and equipment.
Meanwhile, the message from Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. was delivered by Executive Assistant Winston V. Calde who thanked the Philmech for choosing Mountain Province as one of the provincial government models. According to him, being chosen as a model provincial government is a testament to the provincial government’s commitment and capability in delivering the essential services.
In attendance to express their message of support were OPABE Officer-In-Charge Winston D. Beyden, Provincial Veterinarian Rodelio B. Bagawi, Provincial Agriculturist Mary Jane S. Tumapang and Mountain Province Agricultural Programs Coordinating Officer Pedro C. Pinos-an. By Hail, MP
