EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - National Agricultural and Fishery Council ...

agencies and develop the appropriate mechanisms of participation of
local governments in the governance of these institutions.
• The expenditure pattern of local governments for devolved services in
terms of compliance with the requirements of the Local Government
Code, the level of national government non-IRA funding needed to spur
agricultural modernization, and incentives needed to convince local
governments to allocate more resources for agriculture.
• The implementation of E.O. 344 in terms of its policy objective to
determine LGU-compliance with the LGC mandates on the devolution
of agriculture functions, and the appropriate DA RFU-LGU linkages that
will help promote agricultural modernization.
10. Human Resource Development (Sections 65-78)
The incomplete implementation of AFMA to establish a National Agriculture and
Fishery Education System was not a case of lack of initiatives among the
agencies involved but simply a typical case of budgetary inadequacy for new and
incremental initiatives of these agencies using already regularly allocated funds.
In this regard, the following recommendations are suggested:
(a) Strengthen the operational and technical working relationships between
the DA, the CHED, DepEd and TESDA in focusing prioritized program of
activities in the establishment of quality, efficient, competitive and
sustainable National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System
(NAFES) in the country;
(b) The DA should take the lead role in facilitating the immediate transfer of
funds from the budget allocated to AFMA for the NAFES; and
(c) Revisit more intensively the NAFES Policies, Plan and implementing
Guidelines established in 2002 and select strategic core HRD activities
that can propel the effective realization of NAFES.
11. Rural Non-Farm Employment (Sections 98-107)
Rural industrialization is a critical element of rural development. The importance
of employment in the non-farm sector can not be over-emphasized. With small
holdings, agriculture alone will be unable to absorb the increase in labor force in
the sector.
(a) The Basic Need Program (BNP) goals must be revisited as they are
ambitious and duplicate agency activities.
(b) The BOI incentives for agriculture and fisheries appear in order.
However, investments in ecozones for exports should also be promoted;
and
(c) The training and certification of workers should continue but it must be
market and employer-driven.
CONCLUSIONS
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