“When we strengthen our Agricultural and Fishery Councils (AFCs), we build an agri-fishery sector that truly answers to its people.” Anchoring in the principle of participatory governance, Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) OIC Deputy Executive Director Cyril Soliaban set the tone for regional accountability during the FY 2026 Visayas Participatory Performance Review and continue reading…
In the fertile landscapes of the Davao Region, a quiet revolution is taking place, one powered by cultural pride, entrepreneurial grit, and transformative council leadership. At the heart of this movement are two distinct individuals serving on the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC): Jeciry Antik, a Bagobo-Tagabawa champion advocating for Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and continue reading…
Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) Executive Director Bernadette “BidiBidi” De Los Santos emphasized the critical role of grassroots volunteerism and modern bayanihan in advancing the country’s agriculture and fisheries sector during her recent interview on the radio program Bayanihan On-Air on October 05, 2026. Highlighting PCAF’s core mandate to promote broad-based participatory development, continue reading…
In Davao Oriental, Marybeth Irigo and Chorna Cabañog have spent years building lives around agriculture—though in ways that extend far beyond their own farms. Irigo, who has served as the Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (AFC) Chairperson of Davao Oriental for eight years, has moved between agricultural production, market-building, and shrimp farming. Cabañog, the Municipal continue reading…
To bridge research findings with actionable policy recommendations, the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) conducted an online Knowledge Unloading Day (KUD) on October 2, 2026, featuring the study Market Analysis of Local Milk and Dairy Products in the Philippines. KUD is PCAF’s knowledge-sharing initiative designed to cultivate a continuous learning continue reading…
For over three decades, Epifanio “Boy” Loyola Jr. has been a cornerstone of agricultural advocacy in the Davao Region. From his early beginnings in 1986 as Chairperson of the Barangay Agricultural and Fishery Council (BAFC) in Cagangohan, Panabo City, Davao del Norte to his current role leading the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) as continue reading…
Philippine agricultural officials and private sector-partners evaluated Middle East market opportunities for local coconut products under Project Coco Bridge during the special meeting of the National Sectoral Committee on Coconut on September 29, 2026 in Quezon City. “Its goal is to move Philippine coconut products from export potential to actual commercial and retail presence in continue reading…
At four in the morning, while much of the neighborhood is still asleep, Genovivo “Bong” Cajes is already on his feet. His day begins at the bakery before he heads to the farm to check on his dairy cows. Later, he moves between the farm, store, bakery, and restaurant—checking supplies, tending to livestock, managing the continue reading…
Long before Emmanuel “Nhel” Belviz represented the country’s durian export negotiations, his playground was a cacao patch in Davao, where he strolled alongside his father, Severino, learning how to prune trees while barely tall enough to see past the trunk. On the other side of the country in Dolores, Quezon, Mary Grace “Eyeth” Belviz grew continue reading…
Women leaders and stakeholders in agriculture and fisheries came together in Tagaytay City on September 22–24 for the 2026 Women’s Dialogue, using the spirit of the babaylan to examine the challenges women face and identify ways to strengthen their participation and leadership in the sector. The three-day activity, organized by the PCAF Gender and continue reading…
The 2026 National Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization (NAFMech) Summit cum National Consultation on the Proposed Revised National Agricultural and Fisheries Machinery Assemblers, Manufacturers, Importers, Distributors and Dealers Accreditation and Classification (NAMDAC) Guidelines generated 40 policy recommendations to strengthen agricultural and fisheries modernization. Held on September 14–18 in Pampanga, the five-day event opened continue reading…
