NAFC-2nd Quarterly News letter2011 Final - National Agricultural ...

Farm info program........................p2
AKBay...........................................p2
AF2025 updates............................p3
Rubber plantations ......................p4
NAFC @ 53...................................p5
RAFCs 1st nat’l consultation.........p6
Fishing regulation ........................p7
ISSN 1656-7277 Volume 13 No. 2 www.nafc.da.gov.ph April to June 2011
NAF Council approves
hugely improved DA budget
The National Agricultural and Fisheries
Council (NAF Council) en banc has approved
the Department of Agriculture’s proposed
PhP84.33-Billion budget for Year 2012.
Council members from the government
and private sector, as well as stakeholders
invited to share their thoughts on the
proposed budget proposal, indorsed it for
congressional approval during the council
meeting held on April 12 at the BSWM
Convention Hall.
The meeting, which had the proposed DA
budget as the main agendum, was attended
by 31 representatives from the private
sector and 170 from the government sector.
It was presided by Agriculture Secretary
Proceso J. Alcala, the council chairperson.
The proposed DA budget reflects a huge
140.9% increase from the current year’s,
which stands at around PhP35.19 Billion.
It represents roughly 5% of the proposed
2012 national budget, nearly twice the
average ratio from Year 2001-2011.
About 59% of the proposed DA
budget, or PhP49.53 Billion is allocated
for the rice program.
This budget is broken down as follows:
PhP10.03 Billion, or 12%, for the
national rice program; PhP30 Billion or
36% for irrigation, and PhP 9.5 Billion, or
11% for farm-to-market roads.
The other banner programs are allocated
as follows: corn program, PhP1.02 Billion
or 1%; high-value crops development, PhP
2.07 Billion, 2%; livestock, Php 2.42Billion,
3%; and fisheries, PhP3.05 Billion, 4%.
Other programs, which include organic
farming, marketing, agriculturalresearch,
national information network, publicprivate
partnerships and local and foreignassisted
projects get some PhP 8.95
Billion or 11%.
The balance of some PhP16 Billion is
allocated to the Office of the Secretary,
attached agencies, and for automatic
appropriations.
The meeting was marked by animated
exchange of ideas between government
and the private sector, including civil
society organizations.
Mr. Roberto Amores of PhilFoodEx commented
that rice continues to get the biggest
share of the Department’s budget,
which reduces the share for the other agricultural
sectors. As a result, he added that
the allotted budget for the HVCDP is not
enough to sustain the growth of the sector.
Agriculture Undersecretary for
Policy, Planning, Research &
Development Segfredo R. Serrano
discusses the DA’s thrusts and
priorities under the Aquino
administration.
Sec. Proceso Alcala replied that the
DA’s priority is attaining the commitment
towards rice self-sufficiency by
2013, which is the reason behind the allotment
for the rice program.
Mr. Arsenio Tanchuling of Alyansa
Agrikultura recommended that the
manpower for the fisheries sector be increased
to enable the attainment of the
sector’s development objectives.
Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano
responded that DA rationalization plan
submitted to the DBM increases BFAR’s
manpower complement.
Ms. Hazel Tanchuling of RiceWatch
requested for a clarification on the rationale
behind the increase in irrigation budget
given that the irrigation performance
went down. She also recommended that
DA should invest appropriately on irrigation
systems that show results.
Sec. Alcala invited RiceWatch to sit
down with NIA Administrator Nangel
and the panel on rice self-sufficiency for
further details on the irrigation budget.
He further explained that irrigation is
the foremost provider of incremental
increases that can ensure the country’s
rice supply.
Turn to page 3 >>

BAS, NAFC launch
2KR-assisted
farm info project
The Bureau of the Agricultural
Statistics and the NAFC jointly launched
an innovative project that would engage
small farmers in the collection and
utilization of statistical information.
The project, dubbed “Enhancing Farmers’
Capacity to Access, Analyze and Utilize
Statistical Information” was launched in a
ceremony held on June 23 at the Sunrise
Holiday Mansion in Alfonso, Cavite.
The three-year project was funded
under the NAFC-managed Japan Grant
Assistance for the Food Security of
Underprivileged Farmers or 2KR Program
to the tune of some PhP25.68 Million.
The event was attended by around 150
people, including BAS regional and provincial
statistics officers led by BAS Director
Romeo S. Recide; representatives from
the Government of Japan (GOJ) led by
Embassy First Secretary Takehiko Sakata,
Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) representative Ms. Etsuko Taneda,
and DA-JICA Expert Mr. Hiroshi Kodama
(DA-JICA Expert); and representatives
from NAFC led by its OIC-Director, Engr.
Noel A. Juliano, and NAFC-Special Projects
Division Chief Ms. Elgie L. Namia.
It featured a ceremonial signing of
the partnership agreement among the
AKBay embraces
poor households in
Catanduanes
2
April to June 2011
FARM INFO PROJECT. OIC-Director Noel Juliano turns over to BAS Dir. Romeo Recide check representing
first tranche of project funds for the partnership project of the 2KR Program. Witnessing the event is
Mr. Takehiko Sakata, First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy.
parties, as well as the turnover of the
check representing the first tranche of
the project funds from the NAFC to BAS.
The project is designed to further develop
the capability of the BAS staff and its target
clientele in data processing, analysis and
utilization of agri-based information.
It shall provide IT infrastructure, train
and assist the clients, specifically the
small farmers and fisherfolk, to record
farm data and use the same for farm
planning and decision making.
In his speech, Dir. Recide expressed
gratitude to the GOJ for pushing through
with the project inspite of the extremely
devastating calamity that struck their
country recently.
“Every centavo allotted for this project
will be a centavo well spent to improve
the lives of our small farmers and
Poor families in Catanduanes, the islandprovince
of Bicol in the Pacific Ocean, have
been embraced by the AKBay Program,
NAFC’s program for the poorest of the poor.
On June 15, 76 household heads received
financial assistance from the program
worth around PhP750,000, or about
PhP10,000 per household.
In his remarks, Agriculture Undersecretary
for Field Operations Joel Rudinas
indicated that the AKBay Program
embodies the pro-poor philosophy that
guides the operations of the Department
of Agriculture (DA).
Rudinas described growth and progress as
“something built from the ground, as this
would enable the smallest stakeholders –
the farmers – to actually participate and
benefit in the process.”
fisherfolk who deserve so much more of
our care and attention,” he assured the
Japanese partners.
NAFC OIC-Dir. Juliano said that the
project will support NAFC advisory role
to the Department of Agriculture (DA)
especially in providing evidence-based
policy and program recommendations
through its various consultative bodies.
He also took the opportunity to thank
the GOJ for its continued support to
the county’s agricultural development
endeavors and wished BAS good luck
for the successful implementation of the
project.
The GOJ, through Mr. Sakata, expressed
its confidence that the DA programs
will be implemented successfully to
attain security. He also emphasized the
importance of continuing the efforts to
improve the lives of the small farmers.
He noted that AKBay’s name itself connotes
the meaning of true development, one
that is accommodating and partial to
the smallest, yet the most important
stakeholder in the agricultural sector.
With the funds, the recipient households
are expected to start livelihood projects
that will hone their entrepreneurial skills
and augment their family incomes.
The households came from some 43
barangays scattered across the province’s
seven towns.
AKBay program records show that Catanduanes’
beneficiaries favor eight types
of projects, namely: swine fattening, the
most popular, ampalaya production, eggplant
production, mudcrab fattening, softbroom
making, fish-corral project, fishing
net project and watermelon production.

AF 2025 task forces
sets priority doable agenda
Sectoral priority doable actions, specially
for Year 2012, were identified by task
forces pursuing the Agriculture and Fisheries
2025 master plan (AF 2025).
This was the main output of the AF 2025
Action Update and Budget Consultation
Meeting convened by the Congressional
Oversight for Agriculture and Fisheries
Modernization (COCAFM) on May 25 at
the Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan City.
The forum was conducted in collaboration
with the NAFC. The meeting was called to
enable the AF 2025 task forces to share
their recommendations on the Department
of Agriculture’s (DA) 2012 budget
allocations and proposals for strategic interventions
in their respective sectors.
These sectoral recommendations were
the result of a series of meetings by the
chairpersons and members of the AF2025
Task Forces with DA bureaus and attached
AF 2025 Task Force
on Poultry meets
DA lead partners
The Agriculture and Fisheries (AF) 2025 Task
Force on Poultry, Livestock and Corn met
with their lead partners in the Department
of Agriculture on June 9 to tackle critical
development issues in the sector.
Led by Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, the DA
party consisted of Assistant Secretaries
Dave Catbangan and Edilberto de Luna, Bureau
of Animal Industry Director EfrenNuestro,
Livestock Development Council Director
Manuel Jarmin, National Dairy Authority
Administrator Grace Cenas, and representatives
from National Meat Inspection Service
and the Philippine Carabao Center.
The industry was represented by United
Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA), Philippine
Association of Broiler Integrators (PABI),
Propork and National Corn Board. Task
Force Chairperson Atty. Elias Inciong of
UBRA presented the Task Force output.
The discussions highlighted the following
issues: the need to create data system as part
of anti-smuggling efforts; MAV importations;
high fees imposed by local government units
(LGUs) on the livestock and poultry players;
and need for the establishment of Triple A
slaughterhouse and dressing plant.
agencies. They were presented to COCAFM
Chairperson Francis Pangilinan, DA Secretary
Proceso Alcala and Atty. Celso Valmores.
The recommendations were made by the
ff: rice and other staples, Dr. Emil Javier;
poultry, livestock and corn, Atty. Jose Elias
Inciong; commercial crops, Dr. Rolando
Dy; fruits and vegetables, Mr. Roberto
Amores; fisheries, Ms. Sarah Bales; and the
cross-cutting issues, former Agriculture
Secretary Senen C. Bacani. The sectoral
recommendations were endorsed to
the concerned DA Bureaus and attached
agencies for appropriate action.
A meeting, tentatively scheduled in
August, was agreed upon to discuss the
updates regarding the recommendations.
Apart from the presenters, the meeting
was also attended Dr. Ernesto Ordoñez,
head of Alyansa Agrikultura, and heads
and representatives of DA bureaus and
attached agencies.
Secretary Alcala committed immediate
actions by the DA.
Atty. Inciong advocated for the even
distribution of the MAV allocations for the
whole year. Secretary Alcala responded that
he would consult with the companies with
MAV allocations so that the government
will not resort to special importations.
Secretary Alcala said that the DA will provide
funds underACEF for the establishment of
Triple A dressing plant and slaughterhouses
and other facilities needed by the sector to
enhance their competitiveness. He said
that 70% of the ACEF grant will be utilized
for the competitiveness of the poultry,
livestock and corn sector while 30% will go
to the loans for the other sectors.
On the impositions of high fees or taxes
by the LGUs, Secretary Alcala required
the sector to submit a list of fees being
imposed on them together with their
recommendations on the matter. He
said that he would arrange a meeting
NAFC COUNCIL MEETING
From page 1 >>
Atty. Christian Monsod, chairperson of
the NAFC’s Climate Change Committee,
suggested that DA study the development
of carbon markets that are accepted in
credit-for-conservation programs. This way,
he said, the Philippines can save the forests
and earn revenues at the same time.
Mr. Salvador Umengan of the National
Corn Board assured the DA of its support
to the augmentation of the agency’s budget
for postharvest programs. However,
he suggested that postharvest and infrastructure
programs should be presented
separately to show what is expected
from the postharvest programs.
Secretary Alcala thanked the Corn Board
for expressing its support for the increases
in the postharvest facilities budget.
Alyansa Agrikultura chairperson Mr.
Ernesto M. Ordoñez proposed for the formation
of a NAF Council committee on
budget that will help the department in
lobbying for higher budget allocations.
with the Secretary of the Department
of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
and representatives from the League of
Provinces and the League of Municipalities,
together with private sector representatives,
to tackle the issues.
The meeting also touched on the sector’s
request to create a data system that
will make the data on importations
(importations under MAV) transparent
and for easy access by the sector.
As agreed, Secretary Alcala designated
Secretary Catbagan as the point person for
livestock, poultry and corn group who will
work with them on all of their concerns.
Sec. Alcala also announced that the
implementation of the Food Lane program
will be restored. He added that the DA
will put up a “Producers’ Market” that will
directly sell the produce of the poultry and
livestock players to help them become
competitive.
April to June 2011 3

Rubber Plantations
in Luzon?
Rubber is a tree crop usually associated
in nearly typhoon-free Mindanao, so that
when members of the NAFC’s industrial
crop subcommittee of the Committee on
Commercial Crops (CCC) learned that rubber
trees are being farmed in Laguna and Quezon,
they set out to investigate the phenomenon.
Engr. Rolando Rosales, one of the subcommittee’s
members and general manager
of the First Laguna Rubber, shared this
wonderful news to the group, and invited
the members to see the areas.
The sub-committee conducted the site
validation last May 5 in Laguna and Quezon.
The party consisted of representatives from
the Traders Trust International, Latex
Products, King’s Rubber, JDM Agroventures,
CUP, Rubberfields, Inc., CocoaPhil and First
Laguna Rubber, from the private sector
side, and representatives from the Bureau of
Plant Industry, Bureau of Agricultural Research,
Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, and the NAFC.
They learned that the First Laguna Rubber is a
business enterprise that has been engaged in
rubber propagation, planting and marketing
since January 2006. The firm has successfully
covered the provinces of Laguna, Quezon,
Batangas, Cavite, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and
the Cagayan Valley, with approximately
700 hectares of rubber plantation.
The party visited two rubber plantations in
Laguna. The first site, located in Brgy.Ilayang,
Butnog, Magdalena, is a five-hectare farm
with 3,000 rubber trees. It was owned by
Atty. Ceriaco Sumaya. The second site, in
Brgy.Layugan, Pagsanjan, was a 2.5 hectare
rubber farm with 2,500 mature rubber trees
owned by Mr. Alex Pactananan.
The rubber plantation visited in Quezon was
a five-hectare farm with 5,000 mature trees,
owned by former Councilor Ernida Reynoso.
The plantations are intercropped with
patola, squash, corn, coconut and cacao.
Engr. Rosales emphasized that top pruning
and double stocking methods are practiced
in the farm to be able to resist typhoons
and strong winds.
First Laguna Rubber has started operating
a rubber processing plant in Brgy. San Luis,
Luisiana in Laguna, which was constructed
and finished last September 2009. The mill
processes rubber cup lumps up to five tons
per day.
4
April to June 2011
Grains post production group signs MOA with IRRI
The Philippine Rice Post-Production
Consortium (PRPC) recently entered
into a partnership agreement with the
International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI) for the conduct of collaborative
activities toward the enhancement of
the grains postproduction systems
in the country. The agreement was
sealed during the PRPC’s Executive
Committee meeting held June 9,2011
at the NAFC Conference Hall where the
PRPC presented to Secretary Proceso J.
Alcala its accomplishments over the
past two years. In his response, Sec.
NAFC staff relearns gov’t bidding procedures
Eight NAFC employees attended the
Seminar/Workshop on The Philippine
Bidding Documents and Updates on R.A.
9184, otherwise known as the “Government
Procurement Reform Act,” organized by the
Association of Government Internal Auditors
(AGIA) last April 27 to 29, 2011 at Hotel
Kimberly in Malate, Manila. They joined 102
participants from government agencies,
local government units and universities
nationwide. The three-day event focused
Alcala proposed that the group conduct
a workshop to identify possible PRPCassisted
interventions that will contribute
to the successful implementation of
the DA’s Rice Self-Sufficiency Program.
Picture above shows representatives of
the partners signing the memorandum of
agreement for the partnership: from left,
William Padolina, IRRI’s Deputy Director,
Secretary Alcala and NAFC OIC-Director
Noel Juliano. During the same meeting,
the PRPC members decided to change
the group’s name to Philippine Grains
Postproduction Consortium (PGPC).
on the Philippine Bidding Documents for
the Procurement of Consulting Services,
Goods/Services and Infrastructure Projects.
Seated from left to right in above photo are:
Carmelo Yambao, Shirley Pascua, Serafin
Santos, Diana de los Santos, Carmencita
Begonia, Agapita Agustin, Ceniza Dacumos,
Normita Castillo, and one of the lecturers,
Engr. Angelito Z. Saliendra, State Auditor
V from the Technical Services Office of the
Commission on Audit.

NAFC @ 53
NAFC staff awarded with certificates for their hard work and committed service pose for a group photo with NAFC OIC-Director Engr. Noel C. Juliano.
NAFC celebrated its 53rd foundation day on
June 24 by paying tribute to the men and
women who have faithfully served the
agency and its stakeholders.
NAFC OIC-Director Noel A. Juliano led
the tribute by handing out certificates of
appreciation to 23 employees for their
unstinting effort to promote the attainment
of the agency’s goals over half of the
agency’s corporate life.
The recipients were staff who have served
the agency for 30, 25, 20 and 10 years. Five
retired employees were also given honors.
30 years in service
• Diosile Arida
• Serafin Santos
• Cecilia Lupisan
• Jane Antonio
• Ernie Dacio
• Benjamin Donor
• Miriam Aguilar
• Arnel Delosata
25 years in service
• Ditas Matulac
• Mary Anne de Leon
The celebration kicked off
with a mass presided by Rev.
Fr. Steven Sabala of Parish
of the Mary Immaculate
Concepcion, followed by a
short recognition program
that also featured the talents
in fun and games of the NAFC
employees. The following
were the awardees:
20 years in service
• KissieTefora
• Emmanuel Ferrer
• Patricio Mercado
• Ponciano Reyes
• Raquel Lozada
• Jose Redentor Besenio
10 years in service
• Teresita Carpena
• Evelyn Beringuela
• Francisco Resurreccion
• Mercedita Dinglasan
• Ceniza Dacumos
• Percival Figueroa
• Rowena Gallemit April to June 2011 5

6
12 young farmers
leave for Japan
to attend the
ASEAN Young Farm
Leaders Training
Program
Twelve participants in the 2011 batch of
Young Filipino Farmers Training Program
(YFFTPJ) flew to Japan last May 10, 2011
to undergo the 11-month ASEAN Young
Farm Leaders Training Program.
Like the batches before them, the group
is expected to return from the training
armed with new skills and aware of new
technologies that will help them improve
farming operations and raise their incomes
in their farms and communities.
The 12 trainees completed the 85-day
Pre-Departure Orientation Course (PDOC)
conducted from January – April 2011.
The trainees are: Jonard Binoloc Manzano
(Tabuk City, Kalinga); Jonathan Sony Cabarrabang
Domingo (Solsona, Ilocos Norte); Efraim
Dangwas Tomilas (Oyao, Dupax del Norte,
Nueva Vizcaya); Alexander Cipres Paulo (San
Antonio, Zambales); Remigio Terrena Vil-
RAFCs hold first
meeting for 2011
TOP: The turnover of leadership between
outgoing National RAFC President Simon and RAFC
chairperson of Region VIII Edgardo C. Codilla, as
facilitated by NAFC OIC Director Juliano.
BOTTOM: Sixteen RAFC chairpersons were present
during the first national consultation meeting.
April to June 2011
lamayor, Jr. (Calamba City, Laguna); Limuel
Ganibo Mendoza (Pinamalayan, Mindoro
Oriental); Jay Vega Caro (Mambungalon,
Mercedes, Camarines Norte); Johnny Lopez
Casiple (Brgy. Prosperidad, San Carlos City,
Negros Occidental); Ryan Jasper Galvan Solinap
(Brgy. Mabigo, Canlaon City, Negros
Oriental); Ryan Beronguez Sechico (Balangao,
Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay): Andres
BartolomeOkinlayPaluga III (Purok 5, Pobla-
On June 21 and 22, the Regional Agricultural
and Fishery Council (RAFC) Chairmen
held its first 2011 meeting at Hacienda
Gracia in Lubao, Pampanga. National RAFC
president and RAFC chairperson of Region
lll, Mr. Jesus Simon, opened the summit
at around 4:00 pm on the first day. The
discussion focused on the following:
a. The official registration of the RAFC
Association of the Philippines in the Security
and Exchange Commission (SEC) to gain
legal personality and be able to engage
and transact official business with both
government and private institutions, and to
generate funds locally and internationally
for the sustainability of the AFC operations.
A committee composed of the RAFC
president and the three vice presidents
for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao was
created to draft the by-laws and work out
for the registration of the association.
b. Resolution supporting the conversion
of the Diesel Engine motor to electrical
engine motor to help small farmers
lessen the cost of fuel consumption.
cionImpasu-ong, Bukidnon); Junny Deimos
Aliñabo (Center Tamugan, Marilog District,
Davao City); and Al SomicioPolinar (Brgy.
Pisa-an, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.)
The PDOC enables the trainees to learn
and speak Nihongo and also enhances
their technical skills in, and exposes
them to, modern technologies like swine,
cattle and vegetable production.
c. Resolution for the inclusion of the AFC
under the SVLF program of NAFC.
d. Resolution to revert the two-year term of
the AFC Chairperson under the amended
AFC Manual of Operation as approved by
the previous DA Secretary Cito Lorenzo to
the original three (3) years term as provided
under the old AFC MOR. This issue was
requested to be reviewed and looked into
by the committee created for the amendments
of the AFC Manual of regulation.
The second day of the RAFC national
consultation meeting was held at the
NAFC, Apacible Hall Conference Room,
DA Compound in Diliman, Quezon City.
NAFC OIC Director Engr. Noel A. Juliano, in
his message, encouraged and supported
the move of the RAFC association for its
official registration in the SEC. He also
informed the RAFC chairpersons about
NAFC’s plan to hire additional staff
on a job order status to assist the AFC
regional coordinators in assuring and
facilitating the proper conduct of the AFC
Turn to page 8 >>

NAFC convenes tripartite meeting on
fishing vessel regulations
Secretary Alcala dialogues with commercial fishers and DOTC officials on fishing vessel rules.
Officials of the Department of Transportation
and Communication (DOTC), along with their
counterparts in the Department of Agriculture,
met with leaders of the commercial fishing
sector on May 17 at the Apacible Conference
Hall to thresh out pressing regulatory issues
concerning commercial fishing vessels.
Government officials from noted commercial
fishing areas in Mindanao also attended
the meeting.
The tripartite meeting among national
and local government agencies, on
the one hand, and the industry, on the
other, was a quick follow-through to
the industry dialogue with Agriculture
Secretary Proceso Alcala held on January
13, 2011 at the Navotas Fish Port Complex
that identified priority concerns of the
commercial fishers.
Asst. Secretary for Planning George
Esguerra led the DOTC party. He was
joined by Director Jose Venancio Vero,
Jr. of the Maritime Safety Office for the
Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Lt.
JG Jerome Jeciel for the Philippine Coast
Guard (PCG) and Deputy Commissioner
Carlo Jose Martinez for the National
Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
Agriculture Secretary Alcala led the DA
party. He was joined by Asst. Secretary for
Agribusiness, Marketing and Fisheries
Salvador Salacup, who acted as the meeting
facilitator, and Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (BFAR) officials namely:
OIC-Director Gil Adora, Atty. Annaliza Vitug,
Dr. Jonathan Dickson, and BFAR Region 12
Director Sani Macabalang.
The commercial fishing industry was led by
Mr. Alonso Tan of the Alliance of Philippine
Fishing Federations, Inc., who was joined
by Mr. Marfenio Tan and Mr. Jake Lu, SOCSK-
SARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries,
Inc., Mr. Roberto Baylosis, Southern
Philippines Deep Sea Fishing Association, and
Mr. Dario Lauron, Mr. Roger Lim, and Mr. Diony
Patricio of the Association of Tuna Handliners.
Also in attendance were Representative
Pedro Acharon, Jr. (South Cotabato), Mayor
Darlene Antonio-Custodio (Gen. Santos City),
and Mayor Isidro Lumayag (Polomok). The
sustainable development of the areas they
govern depend to a large extent on the sustainability
of the fishing industry.
The officials and industry representative
agreed on the following:
• MARINA will look into legal means for
possible refund of prior payments made for
Seafarer’s Identification Book (SIB) applications
by some fishermen. The agency has
clarified that fishing boats are not covered by
the SIB requirement for seafarer’s onboard
Philippine-registered vessels below 35 gross
tons. However, if the fishing boat engages in
the transport of passengers, even for a limited
period, then it has to comply with the
SIB. The industry agreed to police its ranks
for compliance with said regulations.
• MARINA will look into the request of the
tuna industry to accredit additional training
centers in Gen. Santos City to provide Safety
of Life at Sea (SOLAS) training at a lower
cost affordable to fishermen;
• MARINA will include the draft Phil Merchant
Marine Rules and Regulations (PM-
MRR) for the Fisheries Sector in the agenda
of its next Board meeting, scheduled in the
third week of May 2011;
• MARINA shall include a representative
from the fisheries sector as observer in the
MARINA Board. The industry committed to
designate its official representative. MARINA
also committed to support the proposed legislative
amendment of its Charter to include
other important sectors in the Board;
• MARINA will come up with its draft IRR
for RA 9379 or the Handline Fishing Law of
2006 by end of May 2011. Consequently,
the DA will convene a meeting with the
handline industry and MARINA representatives
to finalize the IRR;
• NTC will conduct stakeholders’ consultation
on June 6, 2011 on the draft NTC Memorandum
Circular on compulsory installation
of NAVTEX receiver for certain categories of
Philippine registered vessels of 250 gross
tons and above engaged in coastwise trade.
The fishing industry’s position will be presented
during the dialogue, requesting for
flexibility to use alternative communications
equipment which are more efficient,
locally available and affordable;
• The DA will organize a technical working
group (TWG) immediately to study the
pros and cons of Philippine accession to the
1993 Torremolinos Protocol. The TWG will
be composed of representatives from the
DA (BFAR, NAFC, DA Policy Service and Legal
Service), DOTC, Department of Foreign
Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment,
Department of Trade and Industry
and the commercial fishing boat operators.
The Protocol aims to standardize the stability
requirements for fishing vessels; and
• To improve the vessel licensing and registration
system, MARINA agreed to renew the
MOA (signed in 2004 and expired in 2010) on
or before May 31, 2011 with DA-BFAR, NTC,
and PCG on joint mobile registration and
licensing, establishment of relational database,
and adoption of a uniform Philippine
fishing vessel registry in compliance with
the European Council (EC) Regulation No.
1005/2008 to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal,
unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
All parties agreed to include the Philippine
Ports Authority (PPA) in the MOA; DOTC
assured budget allocation for MARINA and
PCG personnel for joint mobile registration
and licensing of fishing vessels; and
• The MARINA and BFAR also agreed to
devise an improved system for monitoring
of fishing vessel ownership. This will be
specified in the MOA.
• MARINA agreed to issue a memorandum
circular for marking and annotation
database of pending cases of violations of
environmental laws by fishing vessels.
The NAFC Secretariat was tasked to follow-up
the implementation of the above
agreements with Asst. Sec. Salacup as the
DA focal person.
April to June 2011 7

The Outstanding Organization Achievers in
Agriculture and Fisheries, adjudged in the
2010 Gawad Saka Search, claimed their
grant prize from the National Agricultural
and Fishery Council (NAFC). The turnover
of the checks was led by Engr. Noel A. Juliano,
NAFC Officer-in-Charge, together
with Division Chiefs Ms. Elgie L. Namia,
Mr. Elmer G. Estiandan, Engr. Alexander S.
Daroya, Ms. Diosile G. Arida and Ms. Celeste
V. Villena, and other NAFC officials. Four of
the Outstanding Achievers each received a
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ENTERED AS THIRD CLASS (PM)
Postage Paid at Q.C. Central Post Office
Under Permit No. PM-08-11-57-NCR
Valid Until: December 31, 2011
Subject for Postal Inspection
8
NAFC awards 2010 Gawad Saka checks
Outstanding Young Farmer/Fisherfolk Organization: Catuguing
Palayamanan 4H Working Youth Club. Representative:
President Presidio J. Tabios together with Treasurer Reynante Saoit
Outstanding City Municipal Agricultural & Fishery Council: MAFC of Dingras, Ilocos Norte
Representative: MAFC Chairperson Rogelio R. Ceredon together with Editha Dacoycoy
RAFC meeting
From page 6 >>
consultations and other activities and
functions the AFC should undertake.
Another highlight of the RAFC national
consultation meeting was the turnover of
leadership between outgoing National RAFC
April to June 2011
Outstanding Small Farmer/Fisherfolk Organization:
Diffun Saranay & Development Cooperative.
Representative: Ma. Retchelle D. San Jose
check worth P150,000—Catuguing Palayamanan
4H Working Youth Club (Outstanding
Young Farmer/Fisherfolk Organization),
Diffun Saranay & Development Cooperative
(Outstanding Small Farmer/Fisherfolk Organization),
Sinamar Norte Rural Improvement
Club (Outstanding Rural Improvement Club),
and Municipal Agricultural & Fishery Council
of Dingras, Ilocos Norte (Outstanding MAFC).
The Provincial Agricultural & Fishery Council
of Quezon was awarded with a grant prize of
P250,000 for being the Outstanding PAFC.
president Simon and RAFC chairperson of
Region VIII Edgardo C. Codilla, as facilitated
by NAFC OIC Director Juliano.
The two were both elected during the
RAFC elections in 2011 where it was
agreed upon that they will equally share
the two years term of office of a National
Outstanding Rural Improvement Club: Sinamar Norte Rural
Improvement Club. Chairperson: Emiliano P. Camba
Outstanding Provincial Agricultural & Fishery Council: PAFC of Quezon. Representative: PAFC
Chairperson Guillermo “James” Argosino together with Engr. Ed Marino
The said grant prizes will serve as capital in
their proposed agricultural and fishery undertakings
to further enhance the organizations’
operation/s.
The Gawad Saka Search is a yearly undertaking
of the Department of Agriculture
which aims to recognize outstanding
achievements of farmers and fisherfolk
who have worked hard and practiced the
acquired knowledge and technologies in
the field of agriculture and fisheries.
RAFC president. RAFC Chairperson Codilla
will be serving the last half of the term.
On the other hand, the 16 RAFC chairpersons
also witnessed the launching of the
Rice Nutrition Farming Program (RNFP) in
Barangay Bodega in Florida Blanca, Pampanga
held in the morning of June 21.
NAFC Quarterly is produced by the
Communication and Information
Delivery Section - Planning, Monitoring
and Communication Division of the
National Agricultural and Fishery
Council. 3/F Apacible Hall, Department
of Agriculture, Elliptical Road, Diliman,
Quezon City • Tel. No. (02) 928-87-
41 loc.2605 • www.nafc.da.gov.ph •
nafcqc@gmail.com • Adviser: OIC-
Executive Director Noel Juliano; General
Supervision by: Celeste C. Villena, Chief,
PMCG; Over all production by: Shirley G.
Pascua; Circulation by: CIDS Staff