With the theme “Inclusive by Design: A Dozen Years of Transformative Governance”, the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) dedicated the entire month of June to celebrating its 12th anniversary through various activities.

“We celebrate 12 years of PCAF’s efforts to create meaningful changes in governance by making sure that inclusivity, participation, and fairness are at the heart of everything the agency does,” said PCAF Executive Director Bernadette De Los Santos during the opening of the anniversary exhibit on June 26.

Since its inception, PCAF has championed inclusive and evidence-based policymaking by engaging stakeholders from the grassroots to the national level. This year’s anniversary theme highlighted the agency’s deliberate and strategic commitment to embedding inclusivity across its programs, activities, and projects. 

Director De Los Santos also mentioned that PCAF is not just part of the government, it has actively transformed the way participatory governance works, promoting reforms, and introducing innovations in consultations, meetings and dialogues.

The month-long anniversary kicked off with a series of division-led activities, showcasing the agency’s dynamic internal culture. These include:

• Administrative, Financial and Management Division: hosted “kapehan at pandesalan” and “Amazing Procurement”
• Policy Development and Coordination Division: Sandosenang Saya: Fiesta ng Kulay, Kwento at Kultura, featuring poster making, palabunutan, patintero, and combined palosebo and quiz bee game
• Partnership Development Division: Organized “Love Revolution” held in support of the Pride Month
• PCAFEA Sportsfest: A multi-sport competition led by the PCAF Employees Association, featuring basketball, Mobile Legends, badminton, chess, table tennis, darts, and volleyball
• Planning, Monitoring, and Knowledge Management Division: Spearheaded setting up of the anniversary exhibit showcasing the agency’s major accomplishments for the past 12 years, distributed corporate image-building collaterals in the form of leatherette notebooks, and conducted knowledge-sharing activities. 

Honoring these achievements inspires renewed commitment to transformative governance that is transparent, accountable, and inclusive by design. It has also demonstrated its commitment to knowledge sharing by hosting a virtual Knowledge Unloading Day on Food Safety Act Implementation Assessment on June 13. Finally, the PCAFehan, a traditional activity during PCAF anniversaries, was opened at the DA-PCAF gymnasium.

To cap off the festivities, a Thanksgiving mass officiated by Reverend Father Roland Gohetia was celebrated on June 27. 

The mass was followed by the simultaneous opening of PCAFehan and PCAFestival at the DA-PCAF gymnasium. Employees enjoyed a choice of coffee and mocktails with sandwiches, while PCAFestival featured various  games with corresponding prizes. 

The celebration also served as a platform to recognize the collective efforts of PCAF’s employees, private sector-partners, stakeholders, and the entire DA family who have contributed to the agency’s mission of empowering communities and advancing agricultural and fisheries development in the country.

One of PCAF’s ways to recognize these efforts is the Gawad Parangal, which was conducted in the afternoon of June 27th at the Apacible Conference Room A in Quezon City.

Aside from the agency’s 3rd Gawad Parangal awarding ceremony, PCAFEA also awarded the recently concluded sportfest winners. Additionally, the NADAMCO Gender and Development Committee selected remarkable women during the said sportsfest and awarded its first-ever Outstanding Women in Sports to celebrate women’s excellence in athletics and promote gender empowerment in traditionally male-dominated spaces. 

Following the approval of the agency’s Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) guidelines by the Civil Service Commission in November 2022, the PRAISE Committee conducted the annual event on June 26, 2023, which honored retirees and employees who have reached significant milestones in government careers and those who demonstrated excellence in the previous year.

“Let us all celebrate these achievements, for they are not just individual triumphs, but a collective success that propels PCAF forward. Thank you for your invaluable contributions, for your loyalty, and for your pursuit of excellence,” said PRAISE Chairperson and PCAF Deputy Executive Director Julieta Opulencia.

She also emphasized that the process in identifying this year’s awardees has been a thorough and meticulous one. From the nominations for individual and team awards, the PRAISE Committee has carefully applied guidelines and selection criteria. 

Deputy Director Opulencia also added that the process ensured that every award given was merited and reflected the awardees’ hard work and impact in their roles.

Below is the list of honorees that were recognized during the 3rd PCAF Gawad Parangal awarding ceremony:

 

Retirees

1. Jovita M. Gonzales – 34 years in government service

2. Francis T. Asuncion – 35 years in government service

3. Zoraida F. De Guzman – 41 years in government service

4. Dr. Pedro S. Dumaraos, Jr. – 41 years in government service

5. Carolyn O. Tabangcura – 42 years in government service

6. Engr. Francia M. Macalintal – 42 years in government service

7. DED Julieta E. Opulencia – 43 years in government service

 

Loyalty Awardee

1. Rosano B. Donasco – 20 years in government service

2. Percival V. Figueroa – 25 years in government service

3. Asuncion Arlene B. Mercado – 35 years in government service

4. Maria Belen A. Milanes – 35 years in government service           

5. Engr. Jose Redentor H. Besenio – 35 years in government service

6. Arlyn M. Robrigado – 35 years in government service

7. Mary Ann M. De Leon – 40 years in government service

8. Ditas D. Matulac – 40 years in government service

 

 

Scholastic Incentive Awardee

1. Andrea Louise S. Gutierrez – Master’s in Community Development, University of the Philippines- Diliman
2. Svenjo S. Nicdao – Master’s Degree Program in Digital Innovation, Hanyang University in South Korea
3. Alvin D. Racho – Master’s in Development Management, Development Academy of the Philippines
4. Janielle Aretha G. Pelonio – Master’s Degree in Economic Development Policy for Sustainable Inclusive Growth, Korea Development Institute School in South Korea 

Team Awardee

1. Outstanding Management Committee – Gender and Development Focal Point System
2. Masinop Award – Office of the Executive Director
3. Outstanding Section in AFMD – Cash Section
4. Outstanding Section in PMKMD – Planning and Programming Section
5. Outstanding Section in PDCD – Sectoral Policy Development Section
6. Outstanding Section in PDD – Social Mobilization Section
7. Outstanding Division – Policy Development and Coordination Division

 

Individual Awardee

1. Ulirang Kawani Award – Cyril L. Soliaban, Floreliz P. Avellana, and Celso R. Mateo, Jr.
2. Outstanding COS Personnel (Technical) – Rowena D. Gallemit
3. Outstanding COS Personnel (Admin) – Sonny A. Chua, Jr.
4. Outstanding Permanent Employee (Technical) – Kelvin Jerome R. Rualo
5. Outstanding Permanent Employee (Admin) – Carolyn O. Tabangcura
6. Outstanding Section Chief – Jeanne Marjorie D. Oliveros
7. Outstanding PCAF Official – Marisa R. Lo
8. Executive Director’s Choice Award – Rosano B. Donasco  

Kelvin Jerome Rualo

In choosing the Executive Director’s Choice, DED Opulencia, who served as the former OIC Director, highlighted that it wasn’t the title or position, it was Donasco’s dedication and steadfast commitment to his work that truly stood out, leading to his recognition.

“I saw him when he was just 18 years old until he became a senior employee. He has made a huge contribution to us, to our daily work here at PCAF, to our consultations and meetings, and his commitment to ensure our schedule is organized,” said DED Opulencia in Filipino. | Jezebel Campaniel