Emphasizing accountability and evidence-based planning, Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) Executive Director Bernadette De Los Santos issued a seven-point directive to steer the agency toward optimal performance in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.
The directives were unveiled during the FY 2025 Year-End Performance Review and Planning Workshop held on December 15 to 16, 2025. These instructions demand an evidence-based policy for the submission of accomplishments, for both physical and financial targets.
“While we appreciate traditional planning, we have consciously adopted the principle of ‘Building What Works.’ This concept embraces the reality of uncertainty and change,” ED De Los Santos told participants, signaling a shift from rigid, fixed plans to more agile, results-oriented strategies.
The Executive Director’s instructions serve as PCAF’s roadmap for 2026, focusing on strict accountability, financial discipline, strategic procurement, evidence-based planning, policy reforms, and digitalization and modernization.
According to the seven-point directives, Division Chiefs must personally certify the accuracy of all submissions. Accomplishments without timely, verifiable evidence “shall not be reported” during meetings.
PCAF will also harmonize common procurement items across Operating Units (OUs) to reduce costs and optimize resource utilization.
ED De Los Santos also mentioned that proposals for 2026-2027 must be rooted in actual performance gaps and direct stakeholder feedback from the National Sectoral Committee and Agricultural and Fishery Council engagements.
She also mentioned that a major review of partnership guidelines for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) is underway to ensure clear contributions to the agri-fishery sector and its stakeholders. Aside from this, all OUs are mandated to align activities with the draft PCAF Strategic Plan 2026-2030, focusing on digitalizing participatory mechanisms.
The two-day workshop, themed “Building on What Works, Transforming What’s Next,” utilized an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) approach. This method allowed the agency to identify successful practices from 2025 and transform them into strategies to enhance the agency’s performance.
Key financial and physical performance reports were presented by Budget Section Chief Jose Redentor Besenio, PMKMD Chief Floreliz Avellana, and BAC Secretariat Ken Ryan Eleazar. The presentations highlighted the need to reduce failed biddings and ensure the timely liquidation of cash advances, the two areas ED De Los Santos identified for immediate improvement.
Beyond administrative reforms, the agency committed to a high-level dialogue with the Department of Agriculture’s Operational Management Group. The goal is to refine the Constructors’ Performance Evaluation System and improve the logistics of field activities.
The workshop concluded with a commitment from the four operating units to synchronize their physical targets with financial spending, ensuring that “big-ticket” items like summits and assessments are proportionate to their intended impact on the farming and fishing communities. | Jezebel Campaniel
