Around 50 newly recruited Agricultural and Fishery Council (AFC) members and secretariat-coordinators from Eastern, Western, and Central Visayas attended the orientation on the revised Guidelines on the Engagement of Consultative Bodies (GoECB) in Cebu City on May 15 to 16, 2024.

The two-day activity aimed to orient and familiarize the new members of AFCs and secretariat-coordinators with the GoECB and their respective roles and responsibilities within the council.

GoECB intends to give clear advice and direction to all AFCs as volunteer-partner organizations on the terms and conditions of their engagement with the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries. 

“It is important that all stakeholders to have shared and common level of understanding of policies, processes, and procedures, aside from the agency and Council’s organizational structure, membership, roles, functions, activities, outputs, and other concerns at the national and local levels,” said OIC Deputy Executive Director Cyril Soliaban.

The revised guidelines replaced the Omnibus Guidelines on the Engagement of AFCs. Some of the changes include extending the term of office for each AFC officer to three years, with a maximum of two consecutive terms.

The GoECB also aims to guide all AFC officers and members in the performance of their duties, functions, and responsibilities, as well as their rights to participate in development processes in the agriculture and fisheries sector.

The activity is spearheaded by the Partnership Development Division – Volunteer Management Section. The team also presented and discussed the guidelines of the Search for Outstanding Consultative Bodies, consultation targets, guidelines on AFC monitoring and validation activities, and AFC Patrol.

Aside from the Visayas leg, the orientation will be conducted in two more clusters in Luzon and Mindanao.  | Jezebel Campaniel (With reports and photos from the Regional AFC Central Visayas)