ORMOC CITY — Boosting local food security and agricultural productivity across Leyte’s 4th District, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office VIII (DA-RFO VIII) officially turned over ₱4.5 million worth of farm machinery to the Ormoc City Corn Cluster Association (OCCCA) on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the Ormoc City Hall grounds.
The turnover ceremony was led by DA-RFO VIII Officer-in-Charge Regional Executive Director Rodel G. Macapañas, alongside Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez, Leyte 4th District Representative Richard I. Gomez, and city agricultural officials.
Modernizing Local Corn Production
Funded under the Department of Agriculture’s National Corn Program, the intervention package includes a high-capacity 4WD tractor and a modern combine harvester.
Representing the beneficiary organization, OCCCA President Edgardo Apas formally received the equipment, which is expected to streamline land preparation, reduce post-harvest losses, and lower production costs for corn farmers across Ormoc's agricultural barangays.
Expanding Agricultural Infrastructure
Following the formal turnover, Director Macapañas and Mayor Gomez held strategic discussions regarding upcoming joint agricultural infrastructure projects between DA-RFO VIII and the Ormoc City Government.
Key development plans include the proposed construction of a regional soils laboratory, a cold storage facility for high-value crops, and the establishment of a dedicated corn processing center to further strengthen the local agricultural supply chain.
