The Committee on Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization (CAFMech) identified the need to harmonize the local and national policies on the delivery of agri-fishery products, machinery and equipment during their special meeting on January 27, 2022.

The Department of Agriculture-Field Operations Service (DA-FOS) previously issued Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) passes to suppliers for the unhampered delivery of machinery and provision of after-sales services amidst the pandemic.

However, some suppliers claimed that their IATF passes were not renewed and that the local government units (LGUs) implement separate local issuances, guidelines and requirements that impede their operations.

The Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE) clarified that there is no need for renewal of said passes as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ensured their permanent validity.

The Committee then decided to issue a recommendation for DA and DILG to assist the suppliers and ensure the delivery of necessary agri-fishery machinery and the provision of after-sales services in all parts of country.

Other policy recommendations generated in the meeting were:

• For DA Secretary to issue a memorandum order to all DA procuring entities on the reiteration of guidelines on procurement processes, particularly the timely release of payments to A&F machinery suppliers for signed government projects;
• For BAFE to conduct a national consultation on the salient provisions and revisions incorporated in the Memorandum Order No. 34, series of 2021, or the Number of Years of Market Presence on Brand Required in the Procurement of Four-Wheel Tractors; and
• For DA to issue a memorandum order on the procurement process for A&F machinery and equipment under the Quick Response Fund.