SAN AGUSTIN, PILI, CAMARINES SUR – To cascade to various stakeholders the strategic directions, thrusts and priorities in the agri-fishery sector and thereby promote complementation of plans and programs of the government at the local, regional, and national levels, the Department of Agriculture in Bicol conducted series of virtual planning dialogue with various stakeholders in preparation for the FY 2022 Plans and Budget Proposals (PBPs) via ZOOM.
The virtual planning dialogue with the national government agencies such as NIA, DENR, DSWD, DOST, DPWH, DAR, and DOT was held on November 26, 2020. The provincial local government units were consulted on November 27, 2020. Private sector representatives of vegetables, cacao, coconut, livestock, rice and corn as well as members of the RAFC were consulted on December 2, 2020. Forty-three (43) Municipal Local Government Units (MLGUs) from all over Bicol participated in the virtual planning dialogue on December 3, 2020. SUC Presidents/representatives of Sorsogon State University; Cam. Norte State University; Central Bicol State University of Agriculture; Partido State University; and DEBESMSU participated in the virtual planning dialogue on December 4, 2020.
The activity was spearheaded by the DA Bicol Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED).
In each of the dialogue, Chief Statistical Specialist Danilo V. Lucena presented the 2019 performance of agriculture in Bicol.
Aloha Gigi I. Banaria, Chief of PMED presented the rationale of the activity wherein she emphasized that the conduct of these joint planning is very timely considering that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the important role of LGUs in ensuring food security in their respective localities and the Mandanas ruling on expanding the budget of the LGUs will take effect in 2022. She stressed that it is important for DA to be able to practice its steering function for the AFS by communicating DA’s policy framework, strategic directions and thrusts and priorities to the LGUs to ensure that they are given priority in the local budget. Their participation aims to mobilize resources for the sector which are outside DA’s scope.
Subsequently, the strategic directions of the DA was presented by Ms. Mary Ann R. Cuya. She highlighted the DA’s food security framework which envisions a food secure and resilient Philippines by enabling the sector to continuously recover socially and economically and be resilient under the “new normal”. Strategies include: 1) Improving agri fishery productivity within ecological limit thru the use of science-based decision support tools to improve resilience and productivity, promotion of intercropping and integrated farming systems, intensify the promotion of urban agriculture, backyard and community gardening, and timely and effective implementation of RCEF and other support measures; 2) Intensifying development and adoption of modern, climate-and-disaster-resilient production technologies thru accelerating irrigation development, intensifying research, intensifying the provision of appropriate farm machineries, equipment and facilities; 3) Increasing access to digitally supported value chain; 4) Increasing agri-fishery-based enterprises; and 5) Adequate financing; Enforcing Food safety standards and regulations.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mary Grace DP. Rodriguez, Chief of the Field Operations Division discussed the priority areas of interventions of DA’s banner programs. She reported that based on guidelines, COVID-19 response programs of DA shall be continued in 2022, such as Rice Resiliency Project which aims to ensure availability of local rice thru increased production by providing seeds and fertilizers; Rice Farmers Financial Assistance and Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers which provides P5,000 cash to eligible rice farmers; Expanded SURE AID and Recovery Project which provides zero interest loans to small farmers and fishers and agri-based micro and small enterprises (MSMEs); Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita; urban agriculture and Livestock Livelihood Enterprise Program which provides livelihood thru distribution of livestock modules, including feeds, machinery and equipment.
Also to be continued are Revitalized Gulayan Project, expanded Agri Insurance Project, and Social Amelioration Program for Farmers; continues updating of the RSBSA; assistance to Indigenous Peoples (IPs); Farm Tourism program; Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation Program (F2C2); Youth Agripreneurship Program to encourage the youth to venture in agriculture and agribusiness; Agriculture Dialogue and Information Network Groups (ADING) program which aims to establish integrity circles at the local, provincial, regional and national levels; and Enhancement of Partnership with the private sector particularly in forging contract-growing and marketing agreements.
Proposed interventions should also support the recently passed agri-related laws: 1) Rice Tariffication Law or RA 11203 with emphasis on aggressive approach towards developing competitiveness of local industry, and provision of enabling mechanism to continue domestic rice trade. 2) Sagip Saka Act or RA 11321. Proposals supporting this Act could include assistance on the application for certifications (e.g. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), FDA, etc.)
Bañaria added that the expected outputs of the dialogue includes the consolidated report on the highlights of the documentations of the activities conducted, accomplished templates of priority programs, activities and projects and a Three-year Rolling Investment Program (3YR-IP) which will serve as input to the updated Public Investment Program and the annual plan and budget for FY 2022. # # # (Lovella P. Guarin / DA-RFO V, RAFIS & photo credit: Hermito Privaldos & PMED)
