Int’l community lauds PHL’s contributions to 2014 IYFF

Officials and representatives from various family farmers’ organizations and institutions under the United Nations declared the 2014 International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) a success and lauded the Philippines for hosting its Global Closing Ceremony last November 27, 2014 at the Dusit Thani in Makati City. Food and Agriculture Organization-Office for Partnerships, Advocacy and Capacity Development Director Marcela Villareal said that the international community is in debt to the Philippines for the successful celebration of the 2014 IYFF. Meanwhile, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala accepted the Legacy Document of 2014 IYFF and the Way Forward which was presented by IYFF Steering Committee (ISC) Chairperson Lupiño Lazaro. The closing event was organized by the ISC, in collaboration with the DA, Department of Agrarian Reform, and Department of Foreign Affairs. The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries assisted in the conduct of the said event, which aimed to revisit IYFF activities and achievements during its year-long celebration, including presentation of outputs, and to affirm the course of action in continuing the process of promoting and supporting family farmers and smallholder farmers. (Photo courtesy of Mac Garcia, DA OSEC).

Source: http://nafc.da.gov.ph/NAFCNEWs/2014/laud.html

RAFC Executive Officers, AFC Coordinators gather for island-wide consultative meetings

RAFC Executive Officers and AFC Coordinators in the Luzon B cluster work on their 

respective customized budgetary requirements for 2016.

Four island-wide consultative meetings were held simultaneously on November 4-7, 2014 which gathered a total of 191 Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) Executive Officers, RAFC and Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC) Coordinators.

Following the Joint Performance Review and Planning Workshop held with RAFC and selected PAFC Coordinators in Naga in October, the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) spearheaded the island-wide meetings to provide a venue for the RAFC Executive Officers and AFC Coordinators to have a common and shared understanding of the AFC’s roles and functions in relation to the PCAF and cascade the outputs of the said joint performance review and planning workshop.

The meetings also enabled the consolidation of all AFC reports and documents necessary to substantiate their respective accomplishments for the first three quarters of 2014 and preparation of their respective customized plan and budget proposals for 2016.

Workshops were also conducted for the participants to identify gaps and possible doable solutions to address the gaps in the operations of their respective councils to improve their consultations and monitoring activities. They also proposed criteria for the selection of Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Councils (MAFCs) that will be funded in 2015.

    

“The AFC Coordinators are the action officers of the councils who ensure the preparation of reports and other documents needed from the municipalities, provinces and regions. But, most importantly, they are our partners who provide overall supervision of activities at the ground level. In that sense, they are the PCAF’s unifying link in implementing its mandates and initiatives from the regional down to the municipal, and even the barangay, levels,” Local Support and Coordination Division Chief Elmer Estiandan said.

The consultative meetings for executive officers and coordinators from Luzon A (CAR, Regions 1, 2, & 3) was held in La Union while the Luzon B (Regions 4A, 4B and 5) meeting was held in Baras, Rizal. Meanwhile, the meetings for the Visayas (Regions 6, 7, & 8) and Mindanao clusters (Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, Caraga and ARMM were held in Cebu City and General Santos City, respectively.

“As we gear up for our upcoming efforts, may we always uphold the AFC’s crucial roles as VOICE and BRIDGES of the farming and fishing communities. As our partners in the local levels, you play a large part in achieving our targets under the MFO on Agriculture and Fishery Policy Services,” PCAF Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan said when he spoke to the participants of the consultative meetings for the Visayas and Mindanao clusters.

Deputy Exec. Dir. Florabelle Uy-Yap, on the other hand, graced the Luzon A and Luzon B meetings and underscored the importance of the AFCs’ consultation activities are, especially in yielding sound policy recommendations and addressing policy-related concerns.

Aside from the consolidated data on the AFCs accomplishments for January to October 2014, as well as the proposed criteria for selection of MAFCs to be funded, recommendations to resolve operational gaps and customized 2016 budget, the workshop also enabled the executive officers and coordinators to lay out their respective schedules of activities for 2015.

The AFCs were created through Executive Order No. 116 on January 30, 1987 to serve as an advisory body at the regional, provincial, city and municipal levels primarily in line of the government’s thrust to promote private sector participation in agricultural and fishery development through consultations, advocacy, planning, monitoring and program and project evaluation.

The AFC coordinators, who are appointed by the AFC Vice Chairperson from the government sector, perform the secretariat function for the council and facilitate the fund releases, monitor disbursement and liquidation of the AFC Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses.

Meanwhile, in March this year, a DA Memorandum Circular mandated the establishment of RAFC Offices in Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Regional Field Offices (RFOs) to promote transparency, institutionalize private sector involvement and ensure effective, reasonable and meaningful participation in agriculture and fisheries participatory development at the RFOs.

Tasked to supervise the operations of these RAFC Offices are the RAFC Executive Officers. In addition, they provide secretariat support to the RAFC and coordinate and monitor agri-fishery projects.

With the establishment of the PCAF through the consolidation of the National Agricultural and Fishery Council and the Livestock Development Council, the AFCs, together with the National Sectoral Committees, are seen to play a more active role in shaping national and local agri-fishery development agenda and in the enhancement of the responsiveness and relevance of priority policies and programs.

Source: http://nafc.da.gov.ph/NAFCNEWs/2014/rafc.html

PCAF participates in campaign against VAW, advocates gender equality

The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) participated in the 2014 Walk Against Violence Against Women (VAW) at the Quezon City Memorial Circle last November 25, 2014. Organized by the Philippine Commission on Women, the undertaking marks the beginning of the annual observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW, which will end on December 12. Themed “End VAW Now! It’s Our Duty!” it aims to echo a united voice in ending Violence Against Women and Children. Committed to promote gender equality, the PCAF, through the Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Councils, has recently encouraged the Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan, an organization of the rural women, to join the council in its feat for agri-fishery development. This is aside from the representation maintained by women and women’s organizations in the National Sectoral Committees.

Observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against VAW 2014

The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), together with its consultative bodies, the National Agriculture and Fisheries Council (NAF Council), National Sectoral Committees (NSCs) and Agricultural and Fishery Councils (AFCs), joins the entire nation in the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) 2014, spearheaded by the Philippine Commission on Women. #endVAWph

NAF Council Budget Committee tackles status of 2014 DA Plan and Budget

In the 6th consultative meeting of the National Agriculture and Fisheries (NAF Council) Budget Committee held at the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) Apacible Conference Room in Quezon City on November 11, committee members and partners tackled the status of the implementation of the DA’s 2014 Plan and Budget.

Around 40 officials were in attendance including representatives from concerned Department of Agriculture (DA) bureaus, attached agencies and corporations, and banner programs.

Elsie Balagtas of the DA Budget Division and Carlos Magnaye, Officer-in-Charge of the DA Planning Service, respectively presented the financial and physical accomplishments of the Department for the past three quarters of the year. 

The DA’s Budget Accountability Report on its operations covered the seven Major Final Outputs, namely, Agriculture and Fishery Policy Services, Technical and Support Services, Irrigation Network Services, Farm-to-Market Road Network Services, Agricultural and Fishery Equipment and Facilities Support Services, Plant and Animal Regulatory Services, and Credit Support Services, where the DA has achieved 57% of its three-quarter targets.

Committee members representing private sector entities and civil society organizations voiced some recommendations to improve the planning and monitoring processes of the DA budget which include the presentation of budget proposals and status of implementation of the different programs to the National Sectoral Committees (NSCs), for the Budget Committee to discuss every quarter the status of implementation of the entire DA plan and budget, and conduct initial consultations with private sectors at the local levels to find out the pressing issues that need to be considered in the budgeting process.

In the two resolutions passed during the meeting, the committee underscored the participation of the private sector in the early stages of the budget planning for 2016 and beyond and for the engagement of the Department of Budget and Management in the DA budget consultations.

Stressing that the results of monitoring efforts can be a sound basis for improving the DA’s budget, NSC Chairpersons, who are also members of the committee, reiterated their willingness to serve as third party monitoring body for the DA’s programs and projects.

PCAF officials led by Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan disclosed that the PCAF, which serves as the secretariat for the NAF Council, its Budget Committee, NSCs and AFCs, has allotted an additional budget of around P300,000 for each region every quarter for the NSCs to monitor and track agri-fishery programs and projects in 2015, focusing on big-ticket items.

In line with this, the committee agreed to meet again to discuss monitoring guidelines, budgetary concerns and other matters related to the NSCs’ monitoring of the DA’s 2015 budget implementation.

AKBay II implementers identify implementation strategies for FFHs beneficiaries

The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) and the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 8 (DA-RFO 8), conducted the Implementers’ Meeting and Planning Workshop on AKBay: Agrikultura – Kaagapay ng Bayang Pinoy Program Phase II for Typhoon Yolanda Affected Areas at the Visayas State University Garden Resort, Baybay City, Leyte last September 17-19, 2014. Attended by 77 participants from the PCAF, DA-RFO 8, and representatives from the Agricultural and Fishery Councils, and local government units, the undertaking aimed to identify problems and issues affecting the implementation of the program and provide solutions to those challenges, finalize the capability-building plan for the farming and fishing household (FFH) beneficiaries and the schedule of trainings at the municipal level, and come-up with a calendar of activities for the distribution of inputs at the provincial and municipal levels. The said program is funded under the Japanese Grant Assistance for the Food Security Project for Underprivileged Farmers (2KR Program).

Agri-fishery stakeholders learn climate proofing methods

Agriculture and fisheries stakeholders were trained on climate proofing methodologies during the Training-Workshop on Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) into Policies, Plans and Investments at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in Los Baños, Laguna last October 7-10.

Representatives from the Agriculture and Fishery Council (AFC) and National Sectoral Committee (NSC), Department of Agriculture, local government units, academe and farmers’ regional network learned how to incorporate CCA into their programs and projects.

In his message, SEARCA Director Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr. noted how climate change threatens our food security as it negatively affects the agriculture and fisheries sector and that the best option to face the challenges of climate change is to adapt and heighten the resiliency of the agriculture and fisheries sector.

It is in this context and along with its mandate of building capacities toward inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development that the SEARCA conducted the training-workshop to equip the participants with knowledge and skills in integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation actions into their development initiatives, he emphasized.

During the workshop, the participants were made to apply the systemic adaptation assessment or climate proofing methodology on selected real cases that they submitted prior to the training-workshop.

Their outputs were presented into an “information marketplace,” a method that is based on the idea of a real market where there is buying and selling and the venue is used for stimulating the exchange of information among many people simultaneously within a limited time.

UPLB College of Arts and Sciences Dean Felino Lansigan spoke on the introduction to climate change and climate change adaptation concepts, while UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources Prof. Canesio Predo discussed the use of economic tools in assessing adaptation options.

Meanwhile, Dr. Daylinda Cabanilla of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños and SEARCA Program Specialist Rosario Bantayan served as the training workshop’s Technical Coordinator and Co-Coordinator,respectively.

Among the participants during the activity were AFC representatives Stephen Santillan (Region 6), Floro Dalapag (Region 10), Dante Tobias (Region 2), and Guillermo Argosino (Region 4-A), and NSC representatives Arsenio Tanchuling (Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture), Emman Sibayan (National Confederation of Farmers and Fishers Organizations), Antonio Rola (Committee on Fruits and Vegetables), Alfredo Pedrosa III (Committee on Climate Change), Leonora Lava (Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement), and Emilio Neri (National Federation of Hog Farmers).

The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries endorsed the 10 trainees to increase their understanding on the application of climate proofing methodologies within their respective organizational environment to ensure that climate change concerns are integrated in their agenda.

In addition, their attendance to the training workshop also aimed to enhance their capabilities in the monitoring and evaluation of various DA and NAFC-assisted climate change adaptation programs and projects, and provide feedbacks and inputs on their implementation.

-With reports from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture


source: http://nafc.da.gov.ph/NAFCNEWs/2014/agri-fishery.html

PCAF, AFC coordinators review performance, gear up for upcoming efforts

Photo shows DA Regional Exec. Dir. Abelardo Bragas, PCAF Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan, PCAF Deputy Exec. Dir. Florabelle Uy-Yap, and RAFC 5 Chairperson Jose Cordero during the Joint PCAF-RAFC and Selected PAFC Coordinators Performance Review and Planning Workshop.

The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), with the Regional and selected Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC/PAFC) Coordinators, conducted a review of their performance for the first three quarters of the year and identified strategies to accomplish variances, as well as the fourth quarter targets.

The Joint PCAF-RAFC and Selected PAFC Coordinators Performance Review and Planning Workshop held on October 6-10 in Naga City served as a venue to generate a shared understanding among the PCAF staff and RAFC and PAFC Coordinators in attendance on the agency's Major Final Outputs and its corresponding indicators, as well as strategize the attainment of the remaining targets for the year and improvement of the collection of reports, resolve challenges in consultation and monitoring activities, and appreciate the importance of policy agenda-setting.

PCAF Executive Director Ariel Cayanan emphasized the roles of the AFC coordinators in promoting private sector participation and among the pillars of every AFC consultation, advocacy, planning, monitoring and evaluation, saying: “Realizing the role as the VOICE and BRIDGES of agriculture and fisheries communities will not have been possible without the support of our AFC coordinators who have been closely working with our AFC leaders in facilitating a strong participation among the agri-fishery stakeholders.”

Topics discussed during the undertaking were: Key Result Areas and Initiatives Implemented; PCAF Mandate, Structure and Functions; PCAF MFO Indicators: Operational Definition, Tool for Measurement and Reporting Schedules; Agency Performance: Who contributes to what?; AFC Performance; Content Analysis of Resolutions Endorsed; Sharing of Good Practices; 2015 PCAF Plan and Budget; Result of AFC Profiling; Criteria for MAFC Selection for Budget Support; Format & Contents for Customized Work and Financial Plan; The Importance of Policy Agenda Setting; and Formulating a Policy Brief.

Coordinators’ best practices

Some of the RAFC and PAFC coordinators shared their respective council’s good practices in addressing their challenges.

RAFC 1 Coordinator Milagros dela Rosa shared how their council in the Ilocos Region monitors DA-funded projects and their monitoring reports are used by the DA Regional Field Office in evaluating programs and projects.

The sharing of experiences of the NSC and AFC coordinators roused the participants’ interest in knowing more of the strategies used by the selected coordinators.

The sharing of experiences of the NSC and AFC coordinators roused the participants’ interest in knowing more of the strategies used by the selected coordinators.

Meanwhile, ARMM RAFC Coordinator Virginia Manuel revealed some of the strengths the AFC in their region has, such as having a supportive Department of Agriculture and Fisheries officials and LGU executives, their adaptability to change, highly motivated AFC chairpersons and dedicated AFC coordinators.

Samar PAFC Coordinator John Meniano, Jr. also shared that their provincial government is supportive of the AFC and its activities in encouraging people’s participation and empowerment in agriculture and fisheries development. He also revealed some of the resolutions the provincial government approved, such as the provision of PAFC receipts from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and agricultural insurance for 440 faming and fishing household beneficiaries of the Agrikultura: Kaagapay ng Bayang Pinoy (AKBay) Program. The Samar PAFC was also able to get P1 million worth of financial support for the AFC operations from the provincial government.

Also, Davao Oriental PAFC Coordinator Mercedita Quiamco, shared some of their council’s milestones, such as the launching of the Boston and Tarragona Farmers Information Technology Services (FITS) Centers, and the Banaybanay FITS Center which was given a plaque of recognition in 2011 for its performance and commitment in providing technology and services to farmers and fishers in Region 11. They were also able to generate financial resources from the provincial government .

PCAF Infrastructure Support and Coordination Section Chief Engr. Francia Macalintal also shared the best practices of the National Sectoral Committees (NSCs) in conducting regular and special meetings and public consultations and in gathering feedback from the private sector regarding agricultural and fishery issues and concerns.

She also said that commitment, competence, attitude, time consciousness, teamwork and synergy are critical traits that help them achieve the goals of the NSC.

Workshop outputs

The participants are grouped into their respective regions to identify and resolve
consultation and monitoring challenges.

Workshops were conducted during the undertaking where the participants identified challenges in meeting their targets, such as intervening activities, multiple responsibilities of coordinators, limited resources, and lengthy processing period for reimbursements, among others.

They also proposed several strategies in resolving the challenges identified, which includes rescheduling of AFC activities, assigning RAFC officers to help meet targets, and coordination with the LGUs for financial resources, among others.

The AFC coordinators are also set to prepare their respective region’s Work and Financial Plan for 2015 to be submitted to the PCAF on October 30, as well as a customized AFC Work Plan and Budget for 2016 and their respective councils’ comments on the Criteria for MAFC Selection for Budget Support which are both expected to be submitted on November 15.

source: http://nafc.da.gov.ph/NAFCNEWs/2014/joint.html

National Consultation on the Price Act IRR

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), and the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) spearheaded the conduct of the National Consultation on the Draft DA Administrative Order Re: Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the “Price Act” (Republic Act No. 7581) in relation to agricultural commodities on September 24, 2014 at The Sulô Riviera Hotel, Quezon City. Around 170 representatives from the concerned DA bureaus attached agencies, DA Regional Field Offices including the Agri-Business and Marketing Assistance Divisions, Regional Agricultural and Fishery Councils (RAFCs) and private sector partners from fruits and vegetables, poultry, livestock, and fisheries industries nationwide were in attendance. The consultation garnered the inputs of the participants needed for the finalization of the said draft DA Administrative Order for the IRR of the “Price Act” in relation to agricultural commodities before October 30 of this year. The “Price Act” of 1992 provides consumer protection by stabilizing the price and supply of basic necessities and prime commodities and prescribing measures against undue price increases especially during emergencies. In September 2013, President Benigno S. Aquino III signed R.A. 10623 into law amending certain provisions of R.A. 7581. Participants of the consultation sought for mechanisms that will protect not only the consumers but also the producers and the monitoring of farm gate prices aside from retail prices, adding that small producers should be included in the monitoring teams created. They also asked for the inclusion of garlic, onion, highland vegetables and rice grains among the basic necessities. Upon their request, the participants were given until October 6 to submit a comprehensive account of their recommendations, especially to give the RAFCs time to consult with their provincial and municipal counterparts. Also present during the consultation were DA Assistant Secretary for Livestock Davinio Catbagan, Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness and concurrent AMAS Dir. Leandro Gazmin, and DA Legal Division Chief Atty. Vero Librojo, together with resource persons Atty. Michael Andayog of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Atty. Gavino Benitez of the National Dairy Authority, Atty. Jerry dela Cruz of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, and Atty. Maribel Arias of the DA Legal Division.

Luzon A DA-RFOs draw up IEC plans on AEC

Recognizing the need for more extensive information dissemination and advocacy efforts on the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), the Department of Agriculture, through its Policy Research Service (DA-PRS), and the Philippine Council for Agriculture (PCAF) spearheaded the Area-Wide Seminar-Workshop on the AEC 2015 for DA-Regional Field Offices (RFOs) from the Luzon A Cluster last September 29 and 30 at the Lewis Grand Hotel, Pampanga.

This is the first of five-part series of seminar-workshops supported by the “Strengthening Capacities in Agricultural and Fishery Trade Negotiations and Agreements” project of the DA and the National Agricultural and Fishery Council, one of the two precursor agencies of the PCAF.

The undertaking served as a venue for key DA-RFO officials from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Region 1, Region 2 and Region 3 to formulate their respective information, education and communication (IEC) plans detailing their strategies for creating awareness, understanding and appreciation of the AEC among agri-fishery stakeholders and partners in their locale.

To aid the participants in their discussions, resource speakers Carolyn Castro of the Office of the DA  Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, Research & Development, DA-PRS OIC Noel Padre and DA-International Cooperation Division OIC Noel de Luna discussed the Historical Background on ASEAN Integration Initiatives Contributing and Leading to the AEC by 2015, the Philippines’ AEC Commitments Relating to Agriculture and Fisheries Sectors and Compliance on Integration Measures Affecting Trade in Goods, and the Philippines’ AEC Commitments on Food, Agriculture and Fisheries under the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF).

The event’s overall coordinator, Julieta Opulencia of the PCAF, also reported on the outputs of the five Area-Wide Orientations on the AEC 2015 for stakeholders conducted last year that focused on the integration initiatives affecting the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

During the workshop, participants from each region came up with IEC activities in aid of the country’s preparation for the AEC integration, harnessing print, broadcast and online media and other communication channels.

Among the activities lined up are radio guestings, radio plugs, television commercials, production and distribution of publication and audio-visual materials on AEC, integration of the advocacy on AEC in trainings and seminars, mainstreaming AEC in congresses, meetings and other forums, and creation of a speakers’ bureau.

Also included in the plans are the conduct of information caravans, briefings and orientations locally and trainings on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP), Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP) and other agricultural safety and accreditation standards and procedures for stakeholders.

Aside from advocacy and awareness efforts, the participants also aimed for the accreditation and certification of good practices of farmers/farmers’ groups, upgrading of existing laboratory facilities, provision of marketing assistance to stakeholders, profiling of GAP-certified products, and enhancement of regional animal and plant quarantine/food safety measures.

The road to the AEC

With the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community, the ASEAN will become “a single market and production base, a highly competitive region, a region of equitable economic development, and a region fully integrated into the global economy.”

In her presentation, Castro shared that the AEC is the logical progression of the ASEAN’s economic integration efforts initiated in the early 1990s. Among these efforts are the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services, and ASEAN Investment Area.

Under the AFTA, the ASEAN-6, namely, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, have brought down their tariffs for all products, including sensitive agricultural products, to 0-5 percent range in 2010 except for highly sensitive products like rice.

For Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, the elimination of tariffs will be fully realized in 2015 except for tariff lines under the 7 percent flexibility, which will be eliminated in 2018.

Meanwhile, Castro stressed that the AEC is not a customs union like the European Union as there are no common external (non-ASEAN countries) tariff rates and no common monetary unit. She also added that the AEC will not only “happen” in 2015 as ASEAN countries are ideally starting to reap the benefits of the ASEAN Community especially as most of the measures are already in place.

The AEC is only one of the three in integral pillars of the envisioned ASEAN Community, along with the ASEAN Security Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. All these three pillars are expected to work in tandem in establishing the ASEAN Community in 2015.

Under the AMAF, the AEC commitments on food, agriculture and fisheries by 2015 is the establishment of GAP, GAHP, GAqP, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point based systems (HACCP), Good Hygiene Practice (GHP), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures and Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) of commonly used pesticides, among others.

“Under the AMAF, harmonization of standards is ongoing for crops and horticultural produce, MRLs for pesticides, animal vaccines, accreditation of livestock establishments and livestock products, among others,” de Luna said in his presentation.

Padre, on the other hand, presented the country’s top agri-fishery exports which include coconut oil, fresh banana, tuna, pineapple and pineapple products, indicating that among our largest export markets are non-ASEAN countries like the USA, the Netherlands, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, China, Korea, United Arab Emirates, Germany and Singapore.

“Our top import sources are also non-ASEAN partners although the ASEAN is the top source of rice, coffee and corn. Upon examining our Agricultural Trade Balance sheet, it seems that we are not able to really take advantage of the preferential tariffs accorded under ASEAN because there is no dramatic increase in our exports even though our imports are decreasing,” he said.

United efforts

While acknowledging that wide-reaching awareness campaign should have been instigated early on, DA Assistant Secretary for Planning and Project Development Orlan Calayag, in his speech, stressed that the country cannot afford to play the ‘blame game’ anymore.

“We can leave our negative feelings behind, accept our shortcomings and learn from them. The challenge for us now is finding what our strengths are and take advantage of those strengths,” he said, adding that the DA’s efforts in the past years are geared towards increasing the country’s competitiveness in the AEC.

Stressing the importance of establishing good communication not only with the stakeholders but also among government agencies, ASec. Calayag commended the participants’ proposed effort to involve local government officials in their respective IEC campaigns as it will give way to a well-informed government and a unified voice for the nation.

He then underscored that government communication efforts should be able to convey to the farmers, fisherfolk and other stakeholders the benefits that they can gain in the AEC.

“Our communication should also be two-way. We should be able to provide them the venue to communicate their feedback and give their inputs,” ASec. Calayag stressed.

Local Support and Coordination Division Chief Elmer Estiandan also graced the event to relay PCAF Deputy Executive Director Florabelle Uy-Yap’s message to the participants. In her speech, Dir. Yap highlighted the significance of the proposed efforts of the DA-RFO officials as these will aid the country with its initiatives for the AEC.

Once completed, the outputs of all the five seminar-workshops will be consolidated and forwarded to the Office of the DA Secretary for possible endorsement and fund support of the DA-RFOs, national banner programs and other concerned agencies.

source: http://nafc.da.gov.ph/NAFCNEWs/2014/area-wide.html

NAFC reviews 1st sem accomplishments, gears up for upcoming efforts

Before its full consolidation with the Livestock Development Council as the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), the top management and key staff of the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC) conducted a review of their first semester accomplishments for this year and determined the best strategies for the effective implementation of their second semester targets.

The 2014 NAFC Mid-Year Performance Review and Planning Workshop was held last August 14 at the Rural Development Education Center-Agricultural Training Institute in Quezon City and on August 15 and 22 at the NAFC Apacible Conference Room at the Department of Agriculture (DA) Compound also in Quezon City.

Executive Director Ariel Cayanan encouraged the NAFC workforce to explore all possible means to ensure that they can achieve the agency’s remaining targets for the year.

Meanwhile, Deputy Executive Director Florabelle Uy-Yap urged for the active participation and contributions of the NAFC employees present in the workshop so that they can achieve productive results in the end.

Accomplishments

For its Major Final Output (MFO) on Public Stakeholders Consultations/Dialogue, under its Projects, Activities, Programs (PAP) 1 or the Formulation and Monitoring of Agricultural and Fishery Policies, Plans and Programs, the NAFC, through its consultative bodies (CBs), endorsed 87 policy recommendations and resolutions which is 114% of the targets, and resolved five policy issues which is 250% of the targets. 

A total of 1,161 consultations and workshops were conducted by the NAFC’s CBs, namely the National Agriculture and Fisheries Council (NAF Council), the National Sectoral Committees (NSCs), and the Agricultural and Fishery Councils (AFCs), which is 86% of the total target for the first semester this year. 

Out of those consultations, 206 resolutions and position papers were endorsed (42%) and 101 local policy issues were resolved (58%). For the number of policy agenda prepared, the NAFC attained a total of 112 or 156% of the targets. 

For the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities, the agency has so far completed six policy briefs, reviews and recommendations (43%), prepared 200 M&E reports (45%) and distributed 3,137 copies of those reports to partners and stakeholders (112%). 

The agency was also able to facilitate four partnership agreements in the first semester of this year (57%). A total of 20,427 copies of information, education and communication (IEC) and advocacy materials were distributed to partners and stakeholders and its official website (www.nafc.da.gov.ph) garnered a total of 12,812 visits in the past six months.

Overall, the NAFC’s accomplishments averaged to 100% of its first semester targets for PAP1, 269% for PAP2 or the Information Management System, and 57% for PAP3 or the Partnership Convergence and Development.

Planned efforts

For the second semester, the agency will undertake one NAF Council meeting, 57 consultations for the NSCs, and 1,260 consultations, workshops, summits, and conventions for the AFCs. This will include a joint planning workshop among the agency, NSCs and AFCs which is scheduled in the fourth quarter this year.

The agency is also set to conduct an evaluative study on the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act starting this fourth quarter.

Aside from the re-activation of the technical working committees, the agency will also push for the re-activation of the regional and provincial monitoring teams among the AFCs to undertake the M&E activities planned out for the rest of the year.

The agency is also looking for means to facilitate easier fund access and releases for the AFCs in different regions.

A winning spirit in Quezon

Editor’s Note: Starting May until August this year, Agricultural and Fishery Councils (AFCs) across the country conducted elections for their respective officers for fiscal year 2014 to 2016. Among the newly elected Regional AFC Chairpersons (click here to see full list) is former Quezon PAFC Chairperson Guillermo Argosino. This is his inspiring story.

Volunteerism, as the new CALABARZON (Region 4A) Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) Chairperson defines it, is serving others without expecting anything in return.

Mr. Guillermo Agripino M. Argosino, better known as “James,” has spent almost 30 years serving small farmers and fishers in Quezon. Having their best interests at heart, Mr. Argosino ensures that the efforts of small farmers and fishers are recognized and their issues and concerns addressed. He does all these without asking for any remuneration from the government.

For him, “participation in government undertakings, being able to serve as a bridge of understanding between the government and the people, and helping the marginalized sector be heard” are some of the lifetime rewards that an Agricultural and Fishery Council (AFC) volunteer can have.

“In my over 25 years as volunteer leader, I always tell officials of the government that the AFC is their partner in agri-fishery development,” Chairperson Argosino said in an interview.

As Chairperson of the Provincial AFC (PAFC) of Quezon for about six years, Mr. Argosino ensured that there is strong partnership between the AFC and the local government unit.

“We are partners so, we should be able to work together for the attainment of our common goals,” he explained.

The founding Chairperson of the Gumaca Municipal AFC (MAFC) in 1987, Mr. Argosino saw the need to establish a multi-purpose cooperative to help small farmers and fishers and their families in their community.

“During a MAFC meeting, a kakanin (native rice cake) vendor came in to offer us some of her goods. I asked how she manages her livelihood and she said she borrows a small amount from a “5-6” (informal money lending) scheme so she could finance her business. But, she shared that almost all her earnings goes as payment to the money lender,” he recalled.

So, he offered assistance to the vendor and lent her a small amount without interest so that she would be able to earn some money for her family. Days later, some of the vendor’s friends came and approached Mr. Argosino telling him that they were also interested of availing livelihood assistance from him.

There came the idea of putting up the Gumaca MAFC Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC) which aims to help small farmers, fishers, women and youth with their livelihood through loaning services.

When Mr. Argosino was elected as Chairperson of the PAFC of Quezon in 2006, he continued this effort by revitalizing and strengthening the Quezon PAFC Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. (QPAFC MCI) which now serves as the economic arm of PAFC Quezon. 

The multi-purpose cooperative expanded its livelihood assistance to its member-farmers, small entrepreneurs, fish, fruit and vegetable vendors, small food processors, organic fertilizer producers and goat raisers.

He also initiated the construction of the Quezon AFC Business Center in 2011. This is a joint project of the Quezon PAFC and the provincial government of Quezon which seeks to strengthen the agri-aqua businesses in the province by creating strategic alliances, providing management assistance, training programs and resources for micro-business owners and entrepreneurs. The business center also acts as showroom area for products from the 39 towns and two cities in the province that are part of the ‘one-town-one-product’ scheme.

Recognizing the importance of education and the need to increase the number of new generation farmers and fishers, he collaborated with the BUTIL Farmers' Party on its BUTIL “Karunungan Program” that provides scholarship to deserving youth who want to pursue careers in agriculture and fisheries. To date, the said scholarship program supports a total of 49 students.

He also organized six community-based entrepreneurship programs to help small farmers, fishers, women and youth strengthen their knowledge and capabilities in farm management and learn good agricultural practices to increase production, making them contributors to food security in the country.

Mr. Argosino is also leading a campaign towards natural and organic farming, supporting programs of organic farmers in Tayabas and Pagbilao. The Quezon PAFC has recently partnered with the Japan Agricultural Exchange Council and the Japan International Cooperative Agency in conducting a seminar on safe vegetables and animal production through the mokusaku technology.

The new RAFC 4A Chairperson also helped promote sector representation in Quezon through organizing the Rubber Planters of Quezon, Bamboo and Wood Manufacturers (KARAKA) and Goat Raisers Association of Quezon. 

The 63-year-old AFC leader is also behind the production of a newsletter called the “Quezon PAFC Bulletin.” For him, having a newsletter published is crucial for an organization because “it is a vehicle for promoting transparency on activities and programs of the organization. It also helps facilitate good linkage with our partners.”

Using what he calls “good linkage” that he has established in the local scene, he was able to reach out to farmers and other stakeholders at the grassroots level and find out their issues and concerns. Currently, he added that the Quezon PAFC is focusing on finding solutions on the infestation of coconut scale insects in the province.

Under his leadership, the Quezon PAFC received the Gawad Saka Award for Outstanding PAFC in 2010 and the Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan Special Citation from the provincial government in August this year.

A Business Administration graduate from the University of the East, Mr. Argosino currently manages a family business, the Argosino Crafts and Designs, but, this doesn’t hinder him from devoting himself to the cause of the AFCs.

“Being a volunteer may require me to share my time, effort and personal resources, but I wouldn’t mind how much more I should sacrifice as long as I see that small farmers and fishers are being recognized,” the new RAFC 4A Chairperson stressed.

source: http://nafc.da.gov.ph/NAFCNEWs/2014/winning.html

Fisheries stakeholders seek support of Phil Committee Against IUU Fishing to address EU’s yellow card warning

On June 10, 2014, the European Commission (EC), the executive body of the European Union (EU) responsible for proposing legislations and implementing decisions that uphold the Union's treaties and interests, issued a ‘yellow card’ warning to the Philippines, as well as the Papua New Guinea (PNG), for its shortcomings in fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

To identify collaborative actions to address this, the Philippine Council for Fisheries (PCAF), through its Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (CFA), in collaboration with the Save the Fisheries Now Network (SFNN), organized a forum on July 14, 2014 at the PCAF Apacible Conference Room.

Therese Yosuico of the Trade Section of the European Union (EU) Delegation and Atty. Annaliza Vitug of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Fisheries Regulatory and Quarantine Division (FRQD) were at the forum to shed light to the stakeholders and members of concerned civil society organizations (CSOs) on the EC’s issuance of ‘yellow card’ warning to the Philippines and the current efforts being undertaken by the government.

The EC’s decision came after a thorough analysis of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) of the Philippines’ national systems for implementing the provisions of the IUU regulation (EC) 1005/2008.

The EC has identified deficiencies in the country’s fisheries management measures which include deficient traceability schemes, absence of a comprehensive catch certificate scheme, lack of compliance as regards flag state responsibility over the long-distance fleet operating in PNG waters and the areas of Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

The EC also found the country’s legal framework not being able to address the IUU activities committed by its fleet in high seas and waters under jurisdiction of third states and without deterrent sanction system IUU activities depriving offenders of the benefit derived from the illegal activity.

“There is also lack of sufficient administrative capacities to ensure control and enforcement of the legislation due to the imbalance between resources and the importance of the fishery sector and lack of compliance with international law and regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) rules since the Philippines’ legal framework only provides for limited conservation and management measures under its national jurisdiction and excludes the application of Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) rules to archipelagic borders,” Yosuico said as she further listed down the deficiencies identified by the Commission.

Yosuico also shared the importance of Philippine fisheries to the EU, saying that in 2013, €171 or $229 million worth of fishery exports to the EU or equivalent to three percent of the country’s total exports to the EU.

The EC has formalized dialogue with the Philippines on IUU fishing on June 10, stressing that they trust in the willingness of the country to “tackle the identified challenges and avoid the identification as non-cooperating and adoption of trade measures.”

“The formalization of the dialogue process will serve to strengthen the cooperation between the Commission and the Philippines to address all problems within a logical time frame of six months. A tailor-made suggested action plan has been proposed to the Philippines and has undertaken Trade-Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) to help the country address the named deficiencies,” Yosuico said.

BFAR spearheads the finalization of the said action plan in line with the 12-point action provided by the EU which includes the passage of a legislation on IUU fishing through the amendment of Republic Act No. 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code, traceability issues, catch certification, monitoring, control and surveillance, registration and licensing, and cooperation with the PNG on fisheries development.

“The prepared action plan is currently undergoing interagency scrutiny through the Department of Foreign Affairs and will hopefully be submitted before the deadline this December. We have addressed everything that’s been indicated in the EU’s proposed tailor-made action plan and we hope that this would be enough to satisfy the DG MARE,” Atty. Vitug said.

One of the efforts that BFAR will undertake in light of the issue is the Municipal Fisherfolk Registration (FishR) and the formulation of a national inspection plan. Atty. Vitug also disclosed that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has committed funding for 1,700 positions in the agency this month

“We are very optimistic that by the end of December, we will be out of our ‘yellow card’ status. Aside from this, we are also aiming for a Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) plus certification,” Atty. Vitug said.

Through PCAF-CFA Resolution No. 9, the body sought the support of the Philippine Committee Against IUU Fishing, headed by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, which is mandated to ensure the implementation of the National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing (NPOA-IUU).

On December 6, 2013, President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Executive Order No. 154 to adopt the NPOA-IUU which was developed to achieve the objectives of the International Plan of International Plan of Action on IUU Fishing endorsed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) in 2001.

PCAF-CFA Chairperson Arsenio Tanchuling stressed the urgency to prioritize the six major deficiencies named by the EU through the mechanisms that will operationalize the NPOA-IUU. Private sector members of the committee and representatives of concerned CSOs pledged their support to assist the government in addressing the traceability issues identified.

Should the country not be able to tackle the identified six major deficiencies within the six-month period granted, the EU will issue a ‘red card’ and be declared as a non-cooperative country as was done to Belize, Cambodia and New Guinea in 2013.

The committee recommended the creation of a composite team representing the private sector, civil society and government offices. The committee hoped that this team can meet with Sec. Alcala and seek approval to undertake immediate steps to comply with IUU fishing regulations.

“The objective of this multi-stakeholder initiative is to synergize multi-stakeholder efforts to address the compliance to the EU regulation,” the committee said in the resolution.

The committee also welcomed the suggestion of private fishing operators that they will provide the Philippine government the data they submit to PNG’s vessels monitoring system to address traceability issues. CSO representatives also assured the committee that they will assist in the formulation of policies and action plans.

PCAF Deputy Exec. Dir. Florabelle Uy-Yap was also present at the forum, alongside PCAF-CFA Chairperson Arsenio Tanchuling, and suggested the presentation of the action plan prepared by BFAR to the committee.

Source: http://nafc.da.gov.ph/NAFCNEWs/2014/ycard.html