Twenty five years ago, the National Agricultural and Fishery Council was created by virtue of Executive Order 116 as an advisory body of the Department of Agriculture and a forum for consultative discussions within the agriculture and fisheries sector. It also facilitated the organization of Agricultural and Fishery Councils (AFCs) at every local administrative level, as well as sectoral committees at the national level or the NSCs.
The creation of these consultative bodies gave way to highlight the role of the private sector in nation-building, particularly in the processes of modernizing agriculture and fisheries. The private sector, on one hand, was glad to take the reins for it was an exciting prospect for them to be able to speak, be heard and be recognized as a partner of the government in decision-making.
“I think the biggest advantage with the creation of the RAFC is that there is government transparency, especially with the DA, and we (the private sector) are being involved in deliberating, discussing and monitoring the budget and programs of the DA. That’s the beauty of it, the private sector is involved,” second RAFC 10 Chairperson and pioneer Eduardo Pelaez said in an interview.
When NAFC was established, then Secretary Carlos Dominguez made sure that the private sector had the leadership and the voice in shaping the agriculture in the Philippines. RAFC 10 was the first AFC to be organized—through businessmen Guido Delgado and Pelaez himself. Private sector representatives in the council were mostly bankers, traders, members of civil society organizations, academe, non-government organizations, peoples’ organizations, and others.
“We were happy that the private sector met the challenge head on,” the late and former NAFC Deputy Exec. Dir. Guia Minguez recalled in a speech in 2005.
The agency then moved on to organizing the AFCs at the provincial level, starting with Bukidnon.
“With the challenge that we met in Region 10 and Bukidnon, and the promise it held, we moved on to other regions. Councils were organized in record time because the private sectors were hungry for such an opportunity to help shape agriculture in the country,” former NAFC Deputy Exec. Dir. Minguez once shared.
The AFCs were then seen as partners in progress as they served instrumental in resolving problems, issues and concerns confronting agriculture and fisheries, recommending programs and projects based on their community’s needs, and bringing to the attention of concerned agencies critical information that affects program and project implementation.
AFC members also monitor and evaluate the implementation of DA programs and projects and give feedback on how these are implemented and affect the lives of the members of their community.
Over the years, the role that the AFCs play in energizing Philippine agriculture has remained to be indispensable. As DA Secretary Proceso Alcala once told the AFC leaders, “‘Di kayang suklian ng kahit anong pasasalamat o halaga ang ginagampanan ng bawat isa sa inyo sa ating pamahalaan.”
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of this area-based partnership in agriculture and fisheries development, AFCs in various regions nationwide have conducted activities to highlight the milestones they have reached in years past. Following are the photos of the events held by the AFCs in their respective regions:
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