NAFC to serve as secretariat of agri trade competitiveness committee

The first Agricultural Trade Competitiveness Committee meeting held last February 11, 2013 at the NAFC Apacible Conference Room.

The National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC), led by Executive Director Ariel Cayanan, has been tasked to serve as the secretariat of the newly created Agricultural Trade Competitiveness Committee of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

This is in accordance with DA Special Order No. 77, dated January 28, 2013 which instituted the Agricultural Trade Competitiveness Committee. 

The committee is tasked to formulate strategic and focused programs and action plans, in close consultations with relevant private sector organizations, that will improve the overall agricultural trade performance thereby generating jobs, combating poverty and ensuring food security.

The committee will also identify, prioritize and implement essential agricultural services and programs that will support competitive business operations and strategic decision-making of the private sector thus further encouraging private sector investments in agricultural trade and exports.

It will also monitor and submit monthly reports to the Office of the Secretary on the progress implementation of approved agricultural trade promotion compliance standards and development programs, projects and action plans.

Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Emerson Palad acts as chairperson of the committee and Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness and Marketing Salvador Salacup serves as co-chairperson.

Undersecretary for Field Operations Joel Rudinas and Undersecretary for Special Concerns Bernadette Romulo-Puyat are also among the committee members. Other officials comprising the committee are the heads of Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), Policy Research Service (PRS), Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Products Standards, National Meat Inspection Service, Philippine Coconut Authority, Sugar Regulatory Administration, Fiber Industry Development Authority, DA-International Relations Division (IRD) and members of the Secretary’s Technical Advisory Group.

On February 11, 2013, the committee conducted its first meeting at the NAFC Apacible Conference Room.

Agriculture Attaché in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Josyline Javelosa, Livestock Development Council Executive Director Manuel Jarmin and representatives from DA’s rice, corn and high value crops development programs were also present during the meeting.

The committee discussed the pronouncements of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and his instructions to the Agriculture Attaches on exporting agriculture and fishery products, the top Philippine exports from 2009 to 2011, and the potential products for exports in Japan, the European Union, the Middle East, the United States of America, and cities such as Geneva, Switzerland; Rome, Italy; Beijing, China; and, Bangkok, Thailand.

 “If you look closely at the Secretary’s directions, although we are targeting self-sufficiency in several commodities especially our food staples, I think the policy is not to be confined to self-sufficiency. In fact, in several pronouncements, the Secretary has mentioned that we will also be exporting several commodities. One is to export new products, at the same time, maintain and possibly expand our existing products. But how can we achieve this if our competitiveness level is not going to be at par with the demands of the international market? That is why we are here today,” Undersecretary Palad said.

He also stressed that competitiveness does not only cater to the exported products but will also look into the local markets.

IRD Officer-in-Charge Noel de Luna also presented updates on latest agriculture trade policies, breakthroughs in negotiations and other trade-related matters based on the reports made by the Philippines’ agriculture attaches deployed in eight countries. Also included in his presentation are the top 20 export commodities for promotion this year in each of these key locations.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Palad requested IRD and AMAS to prepare for the Agriculture Secretary a list of commodities that will be affected as the country endeavors to comply with or implement the requirements of the ASEAN Economic Community, a vision for the ASEAN community to be a region that has free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour, and freer flow of capital by the year 2015.

The committee chairman also asked members to accomplish a data form that details production areas, supply base and target market concerns of different agriculture and fishery commodities.

Undersecretary Emerson Palad, flanked by NAFC Executive Director Ariel Cayanan and Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup, leads the committee in setting its direction.