A different kind of harvest was gathered on February 10 to 11, 2026 in Quezon City. It was not one of grain or fish, but of raw, unfiltered feedback from the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) representing different regions of the country.

This occurred as the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) convened the officers and members of the National Sectoral Committees (NSCs) and Agricultural and Fishery Councils (AFCs) for the CSO Consultation on Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Plan and Budget Proposal, and Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Participatory Monitoring and Tracking (PMT) Results Workshop.

“At PCAF, we have always believed that consultations are never just a procedural step.  They serve as our vital check and balance, grounding our plans in real experiences, real challenges, and real aspirations. Most importantly, they reconnect us with the people we serve—and remind us why we do this work,” said PCAF Executive Director Bernadette De Los Santos. 

For the first time, PCAF conducted the CSO Consultation and PMT Results workshop in the same week.  This strategic scheduling aimed to maximize the time, expertise, and insights of the NSCs, the AFCs, the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) Executive Officers, and RAFC Coordinators. 

Over the two-day activity, PCAF presented the agency’s FY 2027 Plan and Budget and CY 2025 PMT results, highlighting major findings, implementation progress, operational challenges, and best practices.

The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) National Banner Programs, including the National Rice Program, National Corn Program, High Value Crops Development Program, National Livestock Program, National Organic Agriculture Program, and Farm-to-Market Road Development Program, presented overviews of their objectives, salient features, strategies, and implementing guidelines.

This is to provide the members of the PMT with a clear understanding of the DA programs and aid them in the conduct of the monitoring and evaluation.  

Furthermore, the group reviewed the refined FY 2027 PCAF Plan and Budget, as well as the targets and schedules for FY 2026 PMT field monitoring and revalidation activities.

The consultation ultimately aimed to consolidate a matrix of recommended strategies and actions, including Gender and Development-responsive interventions, designated responsible units, and a feasible timeline.

OIC-Executive Director Cyril Soliaban emphasized that the activity moved beyond formal presentations. Participants engaged in “candid and heated discussions, but always honest and ultimately constructive,” making the activities both intense and productive.

 

Push for greater transparency and budget alignment

To deter irregularities, participants pushed for the strengthening of the role of RAFC Chairpersons as observers in the procurement and bidding processes.   

It was recommended that they be granted access to complete lists of qualified bidders and contractors from the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System registry to widen participation and limit preferential selection.

There was also a strong call to align Tier II proposals strictly with agency mandates. Participants also urged an increase in Municipal AFC budget allocations, as these Councils serve as the primary feedback mechanisms. 

In government budgeting, Tier I covers the baseline funding required to maintain existing programs and operations, while Tier II represents requested funding for new initiatives, expansions, or high-priority projects that exceed the current budget ceiling of an office.  

On the other hand, CSO representatives urged stakeholders to advocate for an increase in the PCAF budget ahead of its submission to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), specifically by ensuring that the agency’s Tier II proposal is incorporated into DA’s Tier I submission.

The participants were also urged to refine the monitoring standards. The review of PMT results led to a call for clearer, more measurable definitions of project statuses, specifically those under “underutilized” projects, to ensure more reliable decision-making and corrective action.

In the workshop, the NSCs and the AFCs reviewed the PMT questionnaire and provided suggestions for improvement. The Monitoring and Evaluation Section will consolidate these for PCAF management’s consideration.

Moreover, they requested updates on the Commodity Industry Roadmaps and suggested that future revisions be developed through “bottom-up” consultation to ensure that they capture and address actual sector needs.

The implementation of the Sagip Saka Program remains a priority as PCAF advocates for its budget to be included under Tier I to enhance the capacity of AFCs in their roles as Local Enterprise Development Councils.

The outputs of the consultation will be consolidated and incorporated into the PCAF FY 2027 PBP for submission to the DBM. | Jezebel Campaniel