THE Provincial-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System (PAFES) continues with a program reorientation and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing last May 11, 2023, held at the Ceremonial Hall of the Provincial Capitol.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 7 Executive Director, Angel Enriquez, and the Provincial Government of Bohol, led by Governor Aris Aumentado, inked the partnership, which aims to boost agriculture and fisheries growth in the province. The agreement reprises all new signatories and involved stakeholders for the establishment of PAFES. The MOA signing for co-financing is expected to be held at a separate event as the program moves forward with its next steps.
The national-steered program, anchored on the ONE DA Agenda, aims to deliver extension services to the grassroots level through partnerships among Local Government Units (LGU), academe, the private and local sectors, and non-government organizations. This strengthens the capability of the LGUs to plan and implement multiple agriculture and fisheries programs with the province as the center for operations given the full devolution mandate by Executive Order No. 138, s. 2021.
Gov. Aumentado hopes the program will uplift the lives of the farmers and address food sufficiency for all Boholanos. Also, Dir. Enriquez recognized the collective efforts of the local government in maintaining Bohol as an ASF-free province. She further challenged stakeholders to focus on the production growth of potential commodities such as Ubi Kinampay and sustaining dairy goods through the simplified structure of PAFES.
DA Regional Field Office (RFO) Chief, Dr. Gerry Avila, presided over the reorientation program. At the same time, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluating Division (PMED) Chief Elvin Milleza discussed the cascaded 2023 Programs, Activities, and Projects (PAPs) for Bohol Province and Accomplishment Report. Engr. Edna Yu of DA 7 gave an update on the established Rice Processing Complex (RPC) in Pilar, Bohol, a joint project of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Ms. Cecil Opada, PAFES Focal of DA-RRFO 7, presented the memorandum.
The event was also attended by the provincial office heads and the different stakeholders involved in the program. (PIMO/JSS)
