To align the agency’s core competency with the directives of Secretary William Dar, OIC Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) Dr. Liza Battad initiated the creation of the agency’s strategic shift for the fiscal year (FY) 2020.

Entitled “Innovative Consultation for Agriculture and Fishery (A&F) Policy Reforms and Engagement (iCARE), Dr. Battad presented the concept to the PCAF’s officials and employees during the general assembly and direction setting on January 6, 2020 in Apacible Conference Hall, Diliman, Quezon City.

PCAF’s iCARE focused on the operable strategies in line with the Department of Agriculture’s twin mandates of masaganang ani at mataas na kita and anchored on Secretary William Dar’s eight paradigms of the new thinking for the agriculture and fishery sector.

“Setting the direction is very important, peaking on the scenario of our budget for the year 2020,” said by Dr. Battad after the presentation of the agency’s 2020 approved financial allocation. “We need creative and operable suggestions and comments, ideas because this is what we need now.”

Five specific directions composed the value creating strategic shift of PCAF iCARE. These include the commodity value chain membership, re-orientation on improving productivity and profitability, A&F action-oriented policy service and delivery, fostering functional Advisory Special Bodies (ASBs) links and result-based organizational development.

Refocusing the agency’s programs and recalibrating its plans and activities that contribute in accomplishing PCAF’s major final output (MFO) were highlighted by Dr. Battad through the introduction of commitments and specific goals of each strategic direction.    

During the agency’s planning and budgeting workshop for FY 2020, innovative strategies and appropriate activities for effective implementation of the plan were identified by the four thematic groups.

Also, an estimated budget and other financial requirements of each activities and programs were prepared by the four groups based on the approved financial allocations of the agency.

These thematic groups were composed of selected PCAF employees and were given specific task to accomplish based on the strategic shift.

The first group was tasked to review the manual of operations (MOO) of the ASBs and to revise the membership qualification and partnership development.

Also, the creation of business enterprise development council as stipulated in the Sagip Saka Act is one of the major concerns in the revision of the MOO and membership guidelines.  

The second group focused on repackaging the consultation service and its output and special project development that will create a standard guideline in the process of consultation.

The standard consultation guidelines will be used in the promotion of consultation package that will augment resources for institutional capacity development.

Revitalizing the monitoring, traceability and feedback service system was the third group assignment, while re-discussing the MFO anatomy aligned with value for money and operational interface system was the task of the last thematic group.

The same concept was introduced to the officers and members of PCAF’s ASBs during its Operational Meeting held on January 9, 2020 in Tanza Oasis Hotel and Resort, Tanza, Cavite.

During the presentation, Dr. Battad announced the creation of the five iCARE model regions. These five model regions will be the focus in implementing the directions of the newly created strategic shift.

Among the criteria in selecting the PCAF iCARE model regions are the participatory evaluation of council performance including the presence of industry value chain players, evidence-based performance, strong technical and logistical partnership and its engagement. | JD