Commitment to craft more sound and relevant policy resolutions and recommendations was the topmost agreement between the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) and its Advisory Special Bodies (ASBs) during the joint performance review and planning workshop for the three quarters of 2017 held on September 27 to 28 at Apacible Hall, Department of Agriculture (DA) Compound in Quezon City. 

Representatives from the National Sectoral and Strategic Concern Committees (NSSCCs) and the 16 Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Councils (RAFCs) attended the two-day gathering where PCAF presented the agency’s performance for the three quarters of 2017. This also became PCAF’s venue to present to the members of its ASBs the results of the the policy studies funded by the agency.

Three evaluative studies were presented in the workshop. Policy study titled Support to the Local Assembly and Manufacturing of Single-Cylinder Engine for the Philippine Agri-Fisheries Sector was presented by Dr. Victor Rodulfo, Jr., Engineer IV of the University of the Philippines Los Baños-Center for Agri-Fisheries and Biosystems Mechanization (UPLB-BIOMECH).

While Dr. Maria Victoria Larona, Researcher II and Assistant Professor Mark Keylord Onal of UPLB-BIOMECH presented the second policy study entitled Operational Policy for the Development of the Philippine Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Index.

Francisco “Bong” Ramos III of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) Study Team also presented the “Review of Laws and regulations to Enhance Policy Environment towards Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization”.

Comments, as well as reactions were raised by the participants regarding the results of the policy studies, such as the existing problems in the delivered farm machineries, the quality of machine being manufactured and the existing law governing farm mechanization.     

On the same day, NSSCC Chairpersons presented their respective accomplishments for the three quarters of 2017. During the presentation, status of the policy resolutions passed and endorsed by the committees to the DA and other concerned agencies or entities were discussed.

RAFC Chairpersons also highlighted their respective accomplishments for this year’s three quarters. It includes the status of resolutions and recommendations crafted for the said period. These resolutions are those passed and endorsed by the council, as well as those by the Provincial, City and Municipal Agricultural and Fisheries Councils under their supervision.

Estrella Tulay, Division Chief of PCAF’s Planning, Monitoring and Knowledge Management Division (PMKMD) presented the physical and financial performance in relation to the major final output (MFO) of the agency, and the programs and project under the MFO.

Over-all performance of PCAF relies on the policy resolutions passed and endorsed by its ASBs and the adoption of such policy, either on a national or local level. That being the case, both the NSSCCs and the Agricultural and Fishery Councils nationwide reiterated their commitment and support in attaining the agency’s goal for the remaining quarter of 2017.

On the succeeding day, the consolidated report on participatory monitoring and tracking was also presented by Cyril Soliaban, Chief of Monitoring and Evaluation Section (MES). During the presentation, a summary of validated programs and projects per region were highlighted as well as the recommendations on the issues and concerns MES staff gathered during the conduct of monitoring.

John Pagaduan, Vice Chairperson of DA-Information and Communication Technology Committee presented the Electronic Participatory Monitoring and Tracking System through geotagging.

In his presentation, Pagaduan emphasized the importance of geotagging in the monitoring activity of PCAF, as well as the convenience and timeliness of report generation using the system. The said project will be incorporated in the monitoring activity and will be expected to be launched later this year.

To cap the event, participants reached to an agreement to jointly endorse the policy recommendations formulated for the policy and evaluation studies presented. All of these were noted by the Planning and Programming Section of the PMKMD.- JD