Posted on

The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) celebrates another milestone in human resource development as five of its employees recently completed prestigious postgraduate programs. 

Joane Carla Auditor and Engr. Charmine Joy Esta, from Batch 33, together with Engr. Jahensi Supanga from Batch 34, officially earned their Master in Development Management degrees on January 30, 2026, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

These scholarship opportunities mark a renewed commitment to professional growth within the agency. Notably, Engr. Esta earned a “With Honors” distinction during their graduation ceremony.

Auditor, Engr. Supanga and Engr. Esta share a quick smile before officially becoming graduates of the Development Academy of the Philippines.

The three officials completed the Middle Managers Class under the Public Management Development Program, a 12-month course offered by DAP. The program is designed to strengthen advanced leadership and management competencies among government employees, particularly Division Chiefs and Section Chiefs.

Beyond local shores, two PCAF employees represented the agency with distinction at Kyungpook National University (KNU) in Daegu, South Korea. 

Filipino scholars, including Engr. Villanueva, Jr. (3rd from left) and Reytana (3rd from right) under the KOICA Scholarship Program gather for a group photo.

Patrishia Joy Reytna completed the Master’s Degree Program in Agricultural Production and was recognized with both the Leadership Award and the Academic Excellence Award. 

Engr. Reynaldo Villanueva, Jr., completed a Master of Science in Agricultural Engineering. He was honored with KNU Academic Excellence, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) President Academic Excellence, and Gilas Award from the Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea group and the Philippine Embassy in Korea.

Reytana with KNU’s Prof. Hwa-Seok Hwang.

“I hope I can share the knowledge that I have acquired in South Korea back to our stakeholders in the Philippines,” said Reytana.

She also aims to align the Korean policies with the needs of the  Filipino stakeholders, with a focus on sustainability for local Agricultural and Fishery Councils.

Meanwhile, Engr. Villanueva, Jr. emphasized that his research on Precision Livestock Farming will contribute to the updating of the roadmap for modernizing the Philippine livestock industry.

Engr. Villanueva, Jr. poses with his adviser, Prof. Kyung Sook Choi of KNU.

“My research can contribute meaningful, evidence-based insights that can directly benefit Filipino agri-fishery stakeholders,” he added.

The scholarly achievements of these PCAF employees highlighted a commitment to modernizing Philippine agriculture through both grassroots engagement and international analysis. Here is the breakdown of the Capstone Projects, applied research focused on practical solutions, from DAP scholars, and published comprehensive review articles from KOICA scholars:

DAP Scholars:

  • Auditor: Strengthening Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation: Enhanced Guidelines for Stakeholder Engagement in the Implementation of Rice Farm Machinery Projects in Camarines Norte.
  • Engr. Esta: Improved Implementation of Proper Solid Waste Management Practices through Local Government Unit-Agricultural and Fishery Council Collaboration: A Model of Stakeholder Communication and Engagement
  • Engr. Supanga: Social Media for Sustainable Agriculture: Enhancing Youth Engagement and Innovation

KOICA Scholars:

  • Reytana: Navigating Constraint: A Review on the Role of Participatory Governance in Addressing Agricultural Challenges and Enhancing Resilience in the Philippines
  • Engr. Villanueva, Jr.: The Philippine Livestock Industry: A Review of Current Status, Key Challenges, Emerging Opportunities, and Sustainable Growth Strategies in a Developing Country Context

In a congratulatory message, PCAF Executive Director Bernadette De Los Santos reminded the graduates that they are now “walking examples of what government service should look like— excellence with humility, leadership with heart, achievements worn proudly, but always in service to the country”. 

These training and scholarship grants are key components of PCAF’s Learning and Development Program, one of the four pillars of the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management. | Jezebel Campaniel (Photos courtesy of the scholars and ED De Los Santos)