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Chairpersons of the municipal, city, provincial, and regional agricultural and fishery councils (M/C/P/RAFCs) in the region and concerned divisions (operations; planning, monitoring, and evaluation; and regional agricultural engineering) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON gathered for an exit conference and year-end review of accomplishments of AFCs on December 16, 2020, at STIARC Training Hall in Lipa City, Batangas.

As part of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries’ service brand called “We Transform Results into Actions through Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing (WeTRACK),” each PAFC presented the results, findings, and specific recommendations of its monitoring in an exit conference. They have provided feedback and updates of the DA-funded programs and projects like farm-to-market roads, farm machinery and equipment, agricultural facilities, and agency programs, activities, and projects. The concerned DA CALABARZON divisions counterchecked the results to address specific issues and concerns.

Engr. Abelardo R. Bragas, RAFC Executive Officer (REO), expressed how valuable the efforts of AFCs and stakeholders are in providing feedback on the implementation of DA’s programs and projects through M&E.

“Sadyang napakahalaga ng ginagawang pagsisikap ng ating mga AFC at iba pang stakeholders sa pagbibigay ng puna sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa at proyekto ng DA, sa pamamagitan ng inyong pagsubaybay at pagsusuri. Tiyakin natin palagi na transparent ang ating M&E dahil tinitiyak din namin sa inyo, sa ngalan ni Regional Director at Assistant Secretary Arnel V. de Mesa, na ang mga rekomendasyong ito ay bibigyan ng patas na pagsasaalang-alang,” REO Bragas said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Pedrito R. Kalaw, RAFC Chairman, emphasized the importance of strengthening the performance of the AFCs by saying, “Mahalagang ituwid natin ang mali kung mayroon man sa pamamagitan ng pagpapasa at pagsasakatuparan natin ng mga resolusyon sa ilang mahahalagang patakaran nang sa gayon ay makatulong tayo na masolusyunan ang mga isyu patungkol sa pagsasaka at pangingisda.”

All PAFCs also presented its over-all physical performance with a focus on activities that constituted the main final output of the agency by program, activity, and project such as development and coordination of agriculture and fishery policies; achievement in terms of the number of policy resolutions endorsed; the number of consultations/meetings facilitated; and participatory monitoring and tracking, to name a few.

Towards the end of the activity, the body agreed to prepare the targets of AFCs for 2022 – 2025 in conjunction with the proposals for the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation Program submitted to DA CALABARZON by various operating units, provincial local government units, and regional line agencies; and to finalize the selection and appointment of AFC officers in accordance with the Omnibus Guidelines on the Agricultural Fishery Council Engagement. • (ARC, DA-RAFIS)