“Focus is the key”.

This is what Planning, Monitoring and Knowledge Management Division (PMKMD) Chief Estrella Tulay emphasized during the three-day blended workshop of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) on June 22 to 24, 2022 in Tanza, Cavite. 

PMKMD Chief Tulay presented PCAF’s 2022 first semester performance highlights emphasizing the valuable accomplishments and the strategies to be improved in order to reach the agency’s target. 

121 employees, who were physically and virtually present, participated and reviewed the agency’s performance, specifically the first semester physical and financial accomplishments, highlighting the best practices that helped achieve targets. 

The workshop housed PCAF officials while the other employees participated via the Zoom platform. Aside from presenting the notable accomplishments and the presentation of the 2022 1st semester performance highlights, activities like Strategy Cafe: Workshop on the operationalization of priority action agenda and “Recog9zing Syampions” lessons learned and ways forward were conducted.

The workshop also identified lapses, issues and constraints that hampered the performances of each operating unit. It served as a venue to come up with doable gender-sensitive recommendations to attain the remaining targets for the year as well as identify priority transition strategies in preparation for the incoming administration.

In a video presentation featuring the significant accomplishments of the agency, PCAF Strategic Framework for 2016-2022 and the Innovative Consultation on Agriculture and Fisheries Policy Reforms and Engagement (iCARE) Strategic Plan 2020-2025 were presented in order to sustain value-creation across its service brands for a vibrant and responsive PCAF.

Some of the accomplishments under the agency’s Program, Activity and Project (PAP) 1 or under the We Collaborate with Networks of  Agriculture & Fisheries Stakeholders to Unify and Lead Transformation (WeCoNSULT) were significant number of national policies approved, national and regular consultations; National Food Security Summits, finalization of Commodity Industry Roadmaps, and the creation of the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization and Infrastructure Support Section.

While under the PAP 2 or We Transform Results into Actions through Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing (WeTRACK), accomplishments include participatory monitoring and tracking activities, conduct of evaluative and policy studies, project development, grant assistance for underprivileged farmers (2KR) and PL480 program management, participatory planning and performance reviews, creation of databases and dashboards and knowledge management activities. 

For the the PAP 3 or We Advance Voices and Choices in the A&F Sector Towards Empowering Enterprises (WeAdVoCATE), it highlighted the conduct of the National Agriculture and Fisheries Volunteers’ Day, Farmer-Director Program, Agricultural and Fishery Council recruitment and validations, capacity developments, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) accreditation were highlighted.

Also included in the General Administration and Support Services or the WeINSPIRE (We Institutionalize and Nurture Systems and Processes for Integrated and Reliable Management)   highlights of accomplishments of the approval of PCAF Strategic Performance Management System, conduct of weekly start-off activities and International Organization for Standardization recertification. 

In terms of the financial performance, 94% of the 1st sem allocation were obligated and 89% were disbursed. 

WeCoNSULT got 64% in terms of the physical performance. Of their targeted number of policy recommendations/resolutions, 97% were endorsed within 30 days while 49% were adopted by concerned agencies. The team have already facilitated 202 out of 387 targeted consultations while 39% (401 out of 1.024) Municipal AFC consultations were supported for the semester. For WeTRACK, particularly in monitoring activities, 62% of the targeted Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) reports were generated. For knowledge products, 66% of the 1st sem targets were communicated/shared. The agency has also submitted two project proposals for funding.

In terms of the financial performance, 47% were obligated with a disbursement of 71%.

On the other hand, WeAdVoCATE got the highest performance rate in terms of physical and financial performance of 100%. The agency has exceeded its 1st sem target for the increase of membership by 23& and accomplished 167% on partnership agreements with CSOs and farmer/fisherfolks cooperatives. A total of 45 was forged/renewed for the CSO accreditation and 1.64% of accredited CSO members were recruited as members of AFCs.

While the WeINSPIRE established 75% of the financial management system and submitted 100% financial reports. 

“I thank PCAF and all its employees for their flexibility to be able to influence the course and the journey of PCAF iCARE reforms,” said OIC Executive Director Liza G. Battad.

She also encouraged the participants to celebrate milestones that the agency achieved and to bring everyone’s best to strategically implement the transition to another administration. | JC