The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) through its Partnership Development Division (PDD) gathered almost 400 Agricultural and Fishery Council (AFC) Chairpersons and Coordinators for the AFC Operational Meeting on December 4, 2018 at Chali Beach Resort, Cagayan de Oro.

The activity was part of the National Volunteers’ Day celebration, a search that highlights and recognizes the contributions and exemplary performance of all PCAF’s development partners.

It was conducted to present the CY 2018 AFC accomplishment reports and CY 2019 plans and targets, and also to discuss the disposition and utilization of Coconut Levy Assets.

PDD Chief Elgie Namia thanked the AFCs that despite their age, they continuously participate in important and vital decision-makings that would benefit farmers’ and fisherfolk’s lives.

PDD area coordinators presented the 2018 accomplishment per region in terms of the number of consultations/meetings conducted and policy resolutions endorsed. Juanito Chan, Jr. presented for the Luzon A; Ysrael Camacho for Luzon B; Heidi Montilla for Visayas; Cindy Rose Apostol for Mindanao A; Jerace Espinola for Mindanao B; and Floreliz Avellana, Social Mobilization Section (SMS) Chief, for the summary of the reports.

Furthermore, Estrella Tulay, Planning, Monitoring, and Knowledge Management Division Chief, presented the status of monitoring activities; Engr. Reynaldo Villanueva, Capacity Development Section staff, for the AFC trainings; Conchita Del Rosario, Volunteer Management Section Chief, for the AFC support activities; and Romeo Royandoyan, National Strategic Sectoral Concern Committee – Committee on Food Staples (NSSCCs-CFS) Vice Chairperson for the disposition and utilization of coconut levy assets.

In her closing message, PCAF Executive Director Sarah Gutierrez Cayona, urged the body to continue to craft comprehensive policy resolutions and to resolve local issues and concerns that in the years to come will allow our country’s agriculture and fisheries sectors to become more competitive and sustainable. – LC