President Marcos has led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Complex (KAMIC) in Nueva Ecija, the country’s first large-scale agricultural machinery factory.

The machinery factory is expected to strengthen local farm mechanization, boost productivity, and lessen reliance on imported equipment.

During the groundbreaking ceremony on Wedenesday, Dec. 10, Marcos emphasized that KAMIC’s production of advanced machinery will play a vital role in modernizing farmers’ operations and easing their labor.

“The KAMIC is the first agricultural machinery production complex in the country. Its purpose is to strengthen our capacity to develop and build farm machinery,” Marcos said.

“Designed with Filipino farmers in mind, these tools will help increase production, improve crop quality, and ultimately raise the income of our farmers,” the President added.

This, as he acknowledged the sacrifices and challenges endured by Filipino farmers, stressing that their "struggles deserve solutions that are lasting and within reach."

With KAMIC, farmers no longer have to wait for the parts for their equipment or pay for overpriced equipment, the Presidnt said.

“No more farmers left behind in farming technology. The importance of mechanization in agriculture cannot be overstressed,” he said.

Marcos also expressed his gratitude to South Korea for investing in the country, assuring them that the government will protect their investments.

“To our Korean partners, thank you for believing that the Philippines is worth investing in. Thank you also for trusting the Filipino farmer and for taking part in our shared progress. Our partnership together brings technology and hope to these individuals who nourish and sustain us,” the President said.

“I assure you that the government will continue to promote policies to protect your investments here in the Philippines,” he added.

With a total investment of $100 million, the KAMIC will be built on a 20-hectare local government-owned land in Barangay Kalikid Sur, Cabanatuan City.

The facility will assemble and manufacture agricultural machinery, such as tractors and seeders, for the Philippine farm setting.

Emphasizing that "agriculture is the soul of our economy," Marcos vowed that his administration will continue to advance the agricultural sector with technology and the support farmers rightly deserve and suited to the demands of the modern world.

During the ceremony, Marcos also led the distribution of various agricultural inputs and machinery to farmers in Central Luzon.

“To our farmers, we hope these machines will lighten your load. Never naman mangyari na magiging madali ang pagsasaka. Pero sana mapabilis ang trabaho ninyo at sana naman ay mapagaan ang inyong trabaho para naman magkaroon kayo ng panahon na makasama ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay (It will never happen that farming will become easy. But I hope your work becomes faster, and I hope your tasks become lighter so that you can have time to be with your loved ones),” Marcos said.

Among the equipment distributed were four-wheel drive tractors with implements, mechanical planters, combine harvesters, and hand tractors. A total of 44 farmer cooperatives and associations are expected to benefit from the agricultural machinery.

Farmers also received fertilizer, soil ameliorants, as well as hybrid seeds, and foliar that will support 22,103 hectares of hybrid rice for the 2025 to 2026 dry season cropping.