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DOST Funds Rice Mill Technology to Augment Rice Supplies in Apayao
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By: Debbie Glynn V. Manangkil
With the continuous demand of rice for relief packs during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Apayao province, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Apayao installed on March 25, 2020 the impeller type rice mill of Guillermo’s Palay Trading and Rice Milling to produce more rice in addition to NFA rice supplies in PLGU-Apayao.
The impeller type rice mill, which is capable of processing brown rice, and polished rice was funded through the DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) under the project, “Upgrading of Equipment for the Production of Brown Rice and Polished Rice and Improvement of Packaging Material with Product Label for Guillermo’s Palay Trading and Rice Milling”. The firm is currently owned by Mr. Pedro H. Guillermo, the proprietor in Malekkeg, Sta. Marcela, Apayao.
After the installation, test run, commissioning, and training of workers, its initial operation started during the ECQ, thus producing a total of 225 sacks of rice, which were later purchased by the PLGU-Apayao for relief packs in the municipalities of Sta. Marcela and Flora. He had also offered rice mill services for the farmers who are selling their products to the PLGU –Apayao. The rice mill is also capable of producing brown rice/unpolished rice and polished rice. Product label is also being designed so that the products will be easier to market. Aside from Mr. Guillermo, Mr. Rolando Aloag of San Francisco, Luna, Apayao through the coordination of DOST PSTC-Apayao was also tapped by PLGU to provide rice for relief assistance to PLGU-Apayao for the municipalities of Luna and Pudtol, Apayao. His impeller type rice mill was also funded by SETUP thru his project titled “Upgrading of Equipment of Aloag Rice Mill for the Production of Brown Rice”. This rice mill is capable of processing unpolished and polished rice.
As a way of showing their cooperation to their respective communities, the cooperators have also shared some of their earnings as part of their social corporate responsibility in their respective communities.
Black rice processed by the Impeller Rice Mill.
