Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol recently conveyed the department’s agenda to the National Sectoral Committees (NSCs) and Strategic Concerns Committees officers and the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) chairpersons in a meeting. 

More than 30 NSC and RAFC officers gathered on November 17, 2016 at DA-PCAF Apacible Conference Room A in Quezon City.

As the Chairperson of the NAF Council, the highest mechanism of consultation and dialogue between and among government agencies, local government units, private entities and farmers’ and fishers’ groups, Sec. Piñol discussed and clarified priority strategies and initiatives of the current DA administration to the NSCs and AFCs.

Through the event, the NSCs and AFCs had full grasp and understanding on the 10-point agricultural agenda of the new administration. Likewise, the dialogue opened opportunity to highlight private sectors participation on DA’s development processes.

“Nalaman namin yung mga programa ng department at kung saan ito patungo. At least ngayon, from the mouth of the secretary, alam na namin kung ano ang directions at alam na rin naming mga nasa field ang dapat gawin at dapat maitulong,” said Region 5 RAFC Chairperson Alfredo Rillo.

On the other hand, most of the officers appealed for another meeting with Sec. Piñol.

“Although the meeting was fruitful, we at the private sectors, especially the RAFCs want to have an in depth meeting with him where we can raise the issues and concerns of our regions,” Region 2 RAFC Chairperson Isidro Acosta said in a separate interview.

The NSCs and AFCs are PCAF’s Advisory Special Bodies that serves a mechanism for private sector participation in the developmental processes at the national, regional, provincial and municipal levels.

As a result of the dialogue, the Agriculture Secretary has scheduled a meeting with the NSC-Committee on Poultry, Livestocks and Feed Crops on the first week of December, 2016.