NAF Council endorses agri-fisheries modernization plan - National ...

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, flanked by DA Undersecretary Segfredo
Serrano and NAFC Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan, stresses the need to finalize the
AFMP 2011-2017 before the end of the year.
The National Agriculture
and Fisheries Council (NAF
Council) en banc has approved
the Agriculture and Fisheries
Modernization Plan (AFMP)
2011-2017, without prejudice
to the forthcoming comments
of the members of the National
Agricultural and Fishery
Council’s (NAFC) sectoral
committees, during a meeting
held last December 13, 2012 at
the Bureau of Soils and Water
Management Convention Hall.
The presentation of the
draft plan to the NAF Council
is in accordance with Rule 13.1
of the Implementing Rules and
Regulations of the Agriculture
and Fisheries Modernization
Act (AFMA) of 1997, which
states that “The Department
shall formulate the AFMP using
participatory methods and
where close linkages with all
stakeholders shall be maintained
throughout the planning cycle.”
The AFMP is the agriculture
sector’s strategic mediumterm
plan which serves as an
instrument to more sharply
focus on programs, projects and
activities towards modernizing
agriculture and fisheries.
Adopting a dynamic topdown
and bottom-up approach
in consultations, the DA
spearheaded the formulation of
the AFMP 2011-2017 together
with its regional field offices,
operating units, banner program
directorates, local government
units and stakeholders.
Early this year, in accordance
with DA Administrative Order
No. 34 Series of 2000, areawide
public consultations
were conducted jointly by
the DA Planning Service and
NAFC to gather inputs from
representatives of national
government agencies, local
government units, civil society
organizations, Agricultural and
Fishery Councils (AFCs), and
state universities and colleges.
Through the plan, the DA
hopes to achieve “a competitive,
sustainable and technologybased
agriculture and fisheries
sector, driven by productive and
progressive farmers and fishers,
In this issue...
NAFC reports 2012 accomplishments............ 2
Underscoring Gender Sensitivity
within NAFC................................................... 3
CPLFC special meeting.................................. 3
AKBay Program.............................................. 3
25 years of AFC.............................................. 4
UN Maritime Conference................................ 6
New NAFC logo............................................. 7
PGPC Training............................................... 7
AgriLink Exhibit........................................... 8
Mango Congress............................................. 8
Trade Nego Seminar....................................... 8
ISSN 1656-7277 Volume 14 No. 4 www.nafc.da.gov.ph October to December 2012
NAF Council endorses
agri-fisheries modernization plan
supported by efficient value
chains and well-integrated in
the domestic and international
markets, contributing to inclusive
growth and poverty reduction.”
Aside from achieving rice
self-sufficiency in 2013, the DA
also targets to raise incomes of
farmers and fishermen by 2% to
4% and increase agriculture and
fisheries Gross Value Added or
GVA growth by 4.3% to 5.3%
annually through 2017.
It also seeks to increase the
total value of agriculture exports
by 10% annually, maintain
resilience in palay, corn and
livestock and poultry production
with resilience index at 0.95 and
increase client satisfaction by
five percentage points up to 25
percentage from base period in
succeeding years until 2017.
The plan will lay out
turn to page 2
Representatives from different government agencies, private entities,
farmers’ and fishers’ groups, people’s organizations and nongovernment
organizations give inputs and insights on the AFMP
2011-2017 during the NAF Council meeting.

NAF Council...
from page 1
interventions by core functions
of the DA, namely infrastructure
support; research, development
and extension; regulation;
and policy and planning, as
well as “transition functions”
which include risk reduction
and climate change adaptation,
supporting directly one or more
of the Department’s commodity
programs to achieve its targets.
Commodity program targets
will be specified in the updated
AFMP, to include rice selfsufficiency,
and productivity in
rice, corn, livestock and poultry,
high-value commodities and
fisheries.
Inputs of the council
members and other stakeholders
will be consolidated and
integrated in the finalization of
the document for the approval
of the Agriculture Secretary
and before it is published and
disseminated.
“As early as the first quarter
of the incoming year, we will
start updating the Philippine
Development Plan (PDP). Sector
plans, essentially, are expected
right after the issuance of the
PDP because the sector plans
would provide the necessary
details to go about achieving
the national plan. Hopefully,
we will have an updated PDP
around mid-year next year, so it
will be a good thing if you issue
a sector plan now and subject
this plan that you are going to
issue right after the PDP chapter
is approved next year then we
could already review,” NEDA
OIC Assistant Director Jose
Dominador Gomez, Jr. said.
Following the NAF Council
meeting, consultations will also
be conducted with NAFC’s
National Sectoral Committees
with regard to specific details of
the plan.
Apart from approving the
AFMP 2011-2017, the body
also recommended that the NAF
Council Budget Committee
convene in January 2013 to
discuss monitoring efforts and
other related concerns.
Agriculture Secretary
Proceso Alcala added that the
Department will also start working
on the 2014 budget proposal as
early as January next year.
2
October to December 2012
On some issues that cropped
up during the meeting, such as
the modernization of fish ports,
the Agriculture Chief assured
Arsenio Tanchuling, Chairperson
of the NAFC Committee on
Fisheries and Aquaculture, that
the rehabilitation efforts of the
Navotas fish port will push
through.
With regard to government
initiatives to address poverty
especially in the agriculture and
fisheries sector, Department of
Agrarian Reform Undersecretary
Jerry Pacturan disclosed that the
agency is looking into devising
a mechanism for agricultural
conditional cash transfers for
farmers and hoped for further
coordination with the DA and the
DSWD in this regard.
Meanwhile, RAFC III
Chairperson Jesus Simon
asked about the status of the
P400M funds released for the
Cooperative Bank Agri-Lending
Program of the Agricultural
Credit Policy Council (ACPC).
He shared that upon monitoring
this program, they found out that
some banks have returned the
funds to the ACPC since they
will not be able to sustain this
program.
ACPC Monitoring and
Evaluation Dir. Cristina Lopez,
however, clarified that the funds
were not returned and have in
fact been fully disbursed by
the agency. She also disclosed
that the P1B funds they have
requested for 2013 to meet the
demands of the banks have
already been approved and that
there are ongoing negotiations
with rural banks for lower
interest rates.
Usec. Pacturan added that a
new scheme of the program now
allows cooperatives that have
only been in existence for one or
two years to avail loans.
Sec. Alcala, who serves
as Chairperson of the NAF
Council, and Undersecretary for
Policy, Planning, Research &
Development and Regulations
Segfredo Serrano, who is the
NAF Council Vice Chairperson,
facilitated the meeting, together
with NAFC Executive Director
Ariel Cayanan.
NAFC reports 2012
accomplishments
In the year end agency performance review held from
December 17 to 20, NAFC reported an overall performance
rate of 105% for 2012. This covers consultations conducted
and the coordination of agricultural and fishery activities
(103%), monitoring and evaluation of agricultural production
activities (101%), selection and awarding of agriculture and
fishery achievers (100%), conduct of support activities for
enterprise development (125%), information packaging and
dissemination (100%) and website maintenance/updating (100%).
For 2012, the agency has facilitated the conduct of
150 sectoral committee meetings, 107 AFC meetings at
the regional level, 1,459 AFC meetings at the provincial,
city and municipal levels, and two NAF Council meetings.
There were also 21 consultations held with foreign donors.
Meanwhile, a total of 797 resolutions and position papers have
also been passed by the different sectoral committees and local AFCs in
the said year which include an endorsement of Alyansa Agrikultura’s
recommendations to fight smuggling to President Benigno S.
Aquino III and for SEAFDEC, BFAR, NIA and the academe to
conduct marine resource assessment to determine the extent of
damages caused by mining activities in the coastal areas in Caraga.
The AFCs were also able to address or resolve a total of 333
policy issues and have forged eight commitments and agreements.
Some these agreements are with the First Isabela Cooperative
Rural Bank to implement and finance regionwide rice program in
Region 3 and the local government of Sultan Kudarat to provide
fund support worth P250,000 to the province’s AFC for CY 2012.
Meanwhile, 743 Monitoring and Evaluation reports have
been disseminated which include AFMA monitoring and the
external monitoring by the AFCs such as the assessment and
validation of the Support System of Tipid Abono Program in CAR.
There were also six projects and programs approved, which
include, among others, the “Upgrading of the Pesticide Residue
Laboratories” under the Japanese Grant Assistance for Food Security
Project for Underprivileged Farmers (formerly RP-Japan Increased
Food Production Program of 2KR); Phase II of Agrikultura:
Kaagapay ng Bayang Pinoy (AKBay) Program; Establishment
of Technical Advisory and Assistance Mechanism for Enhanced
Agricultural and Fishery Program and Policy Formulation; and,
Enhancing Capacities for Policy Analysis in NAFC; Mobilizing
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Promoting Good Governance.
The agency’s performance is measured
under Major Final Output 3 - Plans and Policies
Developed, Implemented, Monitored and Evaluated.
Organizational issues and concerns of the agency’s
employees were also discussed. The body also reached
an agreement to further study the scheduling of activities
and the allocation of budget for the agency’s activities.

Underscoring Gender
Sensitivity within NAFC
Recognizing the importance
of gender equality within the
agency, around 21 NAFC
employees attended the Gender
Sensitivity Training held at
the Hotel Stotsenberg in Clark
Freeport Zone in Pampanga
from November 7 to 9, 2012.
The activity was facilitated
by Remedios Ignacio-Rikken,
Chairperson of the Philippine
Commission on Women, Board,
Member of PILIPINA (National
Organization of Filipino Women),
and Director for Operations of
Center for Asia-Pacific Women
in Politics, assisted by Emma
Rose Quesada-Medina, a senior
artist-teacher of the Philippine
Educational Theater Association,
an organization committed to
Private sector
seeks creation
of nat’l livestock,
veterinary
services
authority
A special meeting by
the NAFC Committee on
Poultry, Livestock and Feed
Crops (CPLFC) was held on
December 19, 2012 at the
Apacible Conference Room
to gather the inputs and
comments of its members for the
improvement of the Agriculture
and Fisheries Modernization
Plan (AFMP) 2011-2017.
Carlos Magnaye, OIC of the
DA Planning and Programming
Division, presented and
explained the details of the
plan to the CPLFC headed
by Chairperson Rufina Salas.
artistic excellence and people’s
culture that fosters personal
fulfillment and social change.
The three-day training
program focused on the following
topics: sex and gender; Gender
Role Socialization, Gender
Division of Labor, Manifestation
of Gender Bias, Gender, Power
and Development, and Group
Visioning and Commitment
Setting, combined with
exercises and role-playing.
The NAFC staff were
challenged to share their views
and opinions on issues regarding
the topics discussed which
focused on the importance of
gender sensitivity covering the
relationship of men and women
Some of the recommendations
for the Livestock and Poultry
sub-chapter of the plan are the
following: to change “Market
Development Assistance and
Export Initiatives”, one of the
program’s seven priorities, to
“Market Development Assistance
and Export Development”; to
include smallholder assistance
and policy environment specific
to livestock in the aforementioned
priorities; to consider indigenous
materials like malunggay as
feed crops substitute; and, to
include trade remedy measures
in the legislative agenda.
In line with the changes
proposed in the AFMP, the
Committee requested DA
Secretary Proceso Alcala to
consider the passage of Senate
Bill 2839 or the “Animal Industry
and Veterinary Services Act of
2011” and the amendment of
R.A. 1556 “An Act to Regulate
and Control the Manufacture,
Importation, Labelling,
Advertising and Sale of Livestock
and Poultry Feeds” in the DA
to religion, culture, climate,
historical beliefs, living principles
and experiences in the family,
church, language and media.
On the last day, the attendees
Priority Legislative Agenda
for the 16th Congress in 2013.
Through Resolution No. 13
Series of 2012, the Committee
explained that there is an urgent
need to approve Senate Bill 2839,
which aims to turn the Bureau of
Animal Industry into the National
Livestock and Veterinary Services
Authority (NLVSA), as more
concerns related to globalization
are emerging, such as new and more
dangerous animal disease strains
and imported animal products
competing with the local industries.
participated in exercises that
enabled them to share and capture
the importance of exploring
their passion and dreams and
learn to respect an individual’s
capacity and uniqueness.
AKBay performance review, assessment held
DA and NAFC
representatives and program
coordinators jointly reviewed
the implementation of the
Agrikultura: Kaagapay ng
Bayang Pinoy or AKBay Program
last October 22 to 25 in a
workshop held in Camarines Sur.
Fifty seven regional and
provincial AKBay coordinators
from eight regions and 31
provinces, together with NAFC
staff, a representative from DA-
Office of the Secretary, and staff
of DA-RFU 5, were present at
the review where they identified
measures to take to resolve
issues and problems affecting
the program’s implementation.
They also updated
amendments on the guidelines
agreed upon during the previous
assessment, and devised useful
instruments and measures in
monitoring funded projects
and roll-over funds (ROF).
Also present during the
opening program were DA-RFU
5 Executive Director Dr. Jose
Dayao, RAFC 5 Vice Chairperson
Alfredo R. Rillo and NAFC
Executive Director Ariel Cayanan.
NAFC-SPD Grassroots
Support Section Chief Conchita
del Rosario updated the assembly
on the status of the program at
the national level. She said that
all provinces enlisted under
the program, except for Leyte
and Palawan, have already
distributed AKBay checks to
the first tranche beneficiaries.
Despite delays in fund releases
to DA-RFUs and release of checks
to farm household beneficiaries,
some of the recipients have already
started replenishing the amount they
received from the program, months
before the scheduled replenishment
date, del Rosario added.
Twenty three LGU-based
provincial AKBay coordinators
(LPACs) presented the status of
AKBay Program implementation
in their respective provinces
including the status of funded
projects and ROF recovered.
The proposed NLVSA is
seen to have greater capability
to cope with challenges of
improving the country’s livestock
industry and strengthening
our veterinary services.
Meanwhile, the Committee
also pushed for the amendment of
the provision under Section 4B of
R.A. 1556 to require those who
intend to manufacture, import, sell
or distribute feeds to register their
businesses after a period of three
to five years instead of annually.
A workshop was also
conducted to further improve
the ROF Management in the
guidelines. It was agreed that all
LPACs should secure a checking
bank account intended solely for the
AKBay Program ROF and official
receipt by the end of the year.
The program
coordinators also requested
for trainings on management
and financial recording.
AKBay is funded by
the Government of Japan
through the “Japanese Grant
Assistance for the Food Security
Project for Underprivileged
Farmers” or 2KR Program.
October to December 2012 3

25 Years of Leading the Way in Engen
Twenty five years ago,
the National Agricultural and
Fishery Council (NAFC) was
created by virtue of Executive
Order 116 as an advisory
body of the Department of
Agriculture (DA) and a forum
for consultative discussions
within the agriculture and
fisheries sector. It also facilitated
the organization of Agricultural
and Fishery Councils (AFCs)
at every local administrative
level, as well as sectoral
committees at the national level.
The creation of these
consultative bodies gave way
to highlight the role of the
private sector in nation-building,
particularly in the processes of
modernizing agriculture and
fisheries. The private sector,
on one hand, was glad to take
the reins for it was an exciting
prospect for them to be able
to speak, be heard and be
recognized as a partner of the
government in decision-making.
“I think the biggest
advantage with the creation
of the RAFC is that there is
government transparency,
especially with the DA, and
we (the private sector) are
being involved in deliberating,
discussing and monitoring the
budget and programs of the
DA. That’s the beauty of it;
the private sector is involved,”
second RAFC 10 Chairperson
and pioneer Eduardo
Pelaez said in an interview.
When NAFC was
established, then Secretary
Carlos Dominguez made sure
that the private sector had the
leadership and the voice in
shaping the agriculture in the
Philippines. RAFC 10 was the
first AFC to be organized—
through businessmen Guido
Delgado and Pelaez himself.
Private sector representatives
in the council were mostly
bankers, traders, members of
civil society organizations,
academe, non-government
organizations, peoples’
organizations, and others.
“We were happy that
the private sector met the
challenge head on,” the late
and former NAFC Deputy
4
October to December 2012
Exec. Dir. Guia Minguez
recalled in a speech in 2005.
The agency then moved on
to organizing the AFCs at the
provincial level, starting with
Bukidnon.
“With the challenge that we
met in Region 10 and Bukidnon,
and the promise it held, we
moved on to other regions.
Councils were organized in
record time because the private
sector representatives were
hungry for such an opportunity
to help shape agriculture in the
country,” former NAFC Deputy
Exec. Dir. Minguez once shared.
The AFCs were then
seen as partners in progress
as they served instrumental in
resolving problems, issues and
concerns confronting agriculture
and fisheries, recommending
programs and projects based
on their community’s needs,
and bringing to the attention
of concerned agencies critical
information that affects program
and project implementation.
AFC members also
monitor and evaluate the
implementation of DA programs
and projects and give feedback
on how these are implemented
and affect the lives of the
members of their community.
Over the years, the role that
the AFCs play in energizing
Philippine agriculture has
remained indispensable.
As DA Secretary Proceso
Alcala once told the AFC
leaders, “‘Di kayang suklian
ng kahit anong pasasalamat
o halaga ang ginagampanan
ng bawat isa sa inyo.”
In celebration of the 25th
anniversary of this area-based
partnership in agriculture and
fisheries development, the
-AFCs nationwide conducted
activities to highlight the
milestones they have reached
in years past. Following are the
photos of the events held by the
AFCs in their respective regions:
October 4, 2012
CAFC Baguio AFC 25th
Anniversary Celebration
Summer Place Hotel, Baguio City
RTD Cameron Odsey, NAFC LSCD Chief Elmer
Estiandan and RAFC CAR Chairperson Marcelo
Abela hand over a plaque of service award to former
RAFC Chairperson Bial Palaez for his contributions
and for leading the council from 1993 to 1996.
October 9 & 10
RAFC 7 AFC 25th Anniversary
Celebration, Crown Regency
Hotel and Towers, Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City
NAFC Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan, DA OIC-RTD Angel
Enriquez and RAFC 7 Chairperson Efren dela Cruz hand
over a plaque of recognition to Naga, Cebu MAFC
Chairperson, Marietta Genodiala, who has served the
council for 25 years.
October 26, 2012
11th Annual Malaybalay City
AFC Congress and 4H Club and
Rural Improvement Club
Achievement Day
Veranda’s Catering Services
Casisang, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
NAFC Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan, Malaybalay City Mayor
Ignacio Zubiri and Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Alson
Quimba lead the awarding ceremony for the 2012 Gawad
Saka Outstanding Farmer in Region 10.
Novemb
RAFC C
AFC 25t
VCDU P
AFC leaders an
silver anniversa
Caraga RAFC C
November 6
RAFC 9 AFC
Celebration
NAFC Exec. Dir.
and pillars of RAF
volunteerism, com
improve the agric
November 11-1
RAFC 10 AFC 2
Anniversary C
AFC Congress
Cagayan de O
Chairpersons a
10 and represe
affiliate agenci
AFC Run: Tak
November 11.

dering Private Sector Participation
er 20, 2012
araga
h Anniversary Celebration
rince Hotel, Butuan City
d members wrap up the festivities of their
ry with a souvenir group photo. (Inset)
hairperson Robert Enciso.
& 7, 2012
25th Anniversary
, Zamboanga City
Ariel Cayanan thanks pioneers
C 9 for long years of
mitment and dedication to help
ulture and fisheries sector.
4, 2012
5th
elebration and
ro City
nd members of the AFCs in Region
ntatives from DA, NAFC and other
es pose for a group photo after the
bo Para sa Agrikultura on
November 19 & 20, 2012
RAFC 4B (MIMAROPA)
AFC 25th Anniversary Celebration
Sablayan Astrodome, Sablayan
Occidental Mindoro
Cutting of the ribbon for the photo exhibits led by Regional
Exec. Dir. Cipriano Santiago, Governor Josephine Sato
and NAFC Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan, together with RAFC
MIMAROPA Vice Chairperson Mel Macalintal, Sablayan
Municipal Agriculture Officer Lina de Leon, Provincial
Agriculturist Carmelita Villanada, and Sablayan Mayor
Eduardo Gadiano.
November 21 & 22, 2012
RAFC 1 AFC 25th Anniversary Celebration,
Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives
Don Alejandro Quirolgico, Caoayan
Metro Vigan, Ilocos Sur
AFC leaders and members of Region 1 pose for a
photo with NAFC Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan during
the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the
AFCs held at the Nuestra Segovia Consortium of
Cooperatives Hall in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur.
November 28 & 29, 2012
RAFC 4A (CALABARZON)
AFC 25th Anniversary Celebration
Tanza, Cavite
AFC leaders and members of RAFC 4A pose for a
souvenir group photo as the 25th AFC anniversary
celebration held in Cavite draws to a close.
November 23, 2012
RAFC 6
AFC 25th Anniversary
Celebration,DA Compound
Fort San Pedro, Iloilo City
RAFC 6 Coordinator Arla Arenga, NAFC Exec. Dir.
Ariel Cayanan and RAFC Chairperson Ricardo
Provido, Jr. answer the questions of the members
of the media during the press conference held at the
DA Region 6 Compound in celebration of the silver
anniversary of the AFCs.
November 27 & 28, 2012
PAFC Ifugao 25th AFC
Anniversary Celebration
and AFC Congress
Sta. Maria, Alfonso Lista, Ifugao
Leaders and members of the Ifugao PAFC
gather for the AFC 25th Anniversary
Celebration and AFC Congress.
October to December 2012 5

The Diplomatic Conference
on the Safety of Fishing
Vessels conducted by the
United Nations International
Maritime Organization (IMO)
from October 9 to 11 in Cape
Town, South Africa has adopted
a new agreement on fishing
vessel safety, to be known as the
“Cape Town Agreement of 2012
on the Implementation of the
Provisions of the 1993 Protocol
Relating to the Torremolinos
International Convention for the
Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977”.
The diplomatic conference
was attended by 62 Member-
States of the IMO, the specialized
agency of the UN with
responsibility for maritime safety
and security and the prevention
of pollution from ships.
The Philippine delegation
was headed by H.E. Enrique
Manalo, Ambassador of the
Philippines to the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and
Permanent Representative to
the IMO. He was joined by
assistant head of the delegation,
Atty. Francisco Noel Fernandez
III, Political Affairs Minister,
Embassy of the Philippines
in London, and Alternate
Permanent Representative of
the Philippines to the IMO.
The advisers in the Philippine
delegation was composed of DA
delegates, namely, Director Asis
Perez of the Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources (BFAR);
Dr. Jonathan Dickson, Chief
of BFAR Capture Fisheries
Division; Sarah Bales, Chief
of the NAFC’s Fisheries and
Aquaculture Section; as well as
Engr. Jose Venancio Vero, Jr.
Director of the Maritime Safety
Office of the Maritime Industry
Authority (MARINA) under the
Department of Transportation
and Communication (DOTC).
The observers, on the other
hand, were Rosanna Bernadette
Contreras, Executive Director of
SOCSKSARGEN Federation of
Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc.
(SFFAI); Earl Edgardo Alonso,
Attaché, Philippine Embassy
in South Africa; and Steven
Chaimowits, Honorary Consul,
Philippine Honorary Consulate
in Cape Town, South Africa.
6
UN maritime conference adopts new
agreement on fishing vessel safety
NAFC representative among Philippine delegates
October to December 2012
The Diplomatic Conference on the Safety of Fishing Vessels
was held to consider a new agreement on the implementation
of the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 Relating to the
Torremolinos Convention, 1997 for the Safety of Fishing
Vessels.
In his opening remarks,
IMO Secretary-General Koji
Sekimizu addressed the need
to come up with an agreement
that will help boost the
state of the fishing industry.
“The significant changes
in the fishing industry globally
in the last twenty years call
for renewed regulatory efforts,
and the time is now ripe for an
Agreement to be concluded such
that its objectives be met on an
international basis,” he said.
“The Agreement reflects our
renewed commitment and good
hope that the provisions of the
1993 Toremolinos Protocol will
come into force, this time, in the
very near future. I encourage all
IMO member states and those
which have a large number of
fishing vessels, in particular,
to ratify the Agreement
without delay,” he added.
The 1977 Torremolinos
Convention was adopted in
Torremolinos, Spain on April
2, 1977 to provide uniform
principles and rules concerning
construction, equipment,
stability, radio communications
and other safety of new decked,
seagoing fishing vessels of
24 meters in length and over.
Due to technical difficulties,
however, the Convention did not
enter into force. As an alternative
solution, a Protocol was
adopted in 1993 amending the
Convention 16 years after. The
Torremolinos Protocol updates,
amends and absorb the parent
Convention, taking into account
the technological evolution in the
intervening years and the need
to take a pragmatic approach
to encourage ratification of
the instruments. The Protocol
covers fishing vessels of 24
meters in length and over.
The DA, through
BFAR and NAFC, took an
active role in consolidating
the commercial fisheries
sector in crafting a position
paper, which was presented
during the said conference.
As urged by the Ocean
Concerns Office of the
Department of Foreign Affairs
(OCO-DFA), NAFC convened
a stakeholders’ meeting on June
1, 2012, which officially formed
the Task Force on Torremolinos
Convention and Protocol (TF-
TCP) led by BFAR, together with
the MARINA, with members
composed of the representatives
from OCO-DFA, NTC, NAFC
and industry organizations,
namely, Alliance of Philippine
Fishing Federations, Inc.,
Inter-island Deep Sea Fishing,
Inc., SFFAII, and Southern
Philippines Deep Sea Fishing
Association, Inc.. This initiative
recognized the need to assess
the impacts of the Torremolinos
Protocol on the Philippine
fisheries industry for compliance
with the Protocol’s standard
requirements for fishing vessels.
The task force prepared
the Philippine position that
was submitted to the IMO.
The Cape Town Agreement
of 2012 will enter into force 12
months after the date, on which
22 States having an aggregate
number of 3,000 fishing vessels
of 24 meters in length or 300 gross
tons capacity and over operating
on the high seas, have expressed
their consent to be bound by it.
The Agreement will be open
for signature at IMO Headquarters
from 11 February 2013 to 10
February 2014 and thereafter
remain open for accession.
The inter-agency technical
working group led by the DA
will conduct follow-through
consultations to report the result
of the Cape Town Conference and
to solicit stakeholders’ positions
on the Philippine ratification
to the Cape Town Agreement
on the implementation of the
1993 Torremolinos Protocol.
The Philippine delegation in the IMO diplomatic conference in
Cape Town, South Africa, with Sarah Bales (fifth from left), Chief of
the Fisheries and Aquaculture Section, representing NAFC.

NAFC marks anniv
with new logo
NAFC marks its 25th year
as the participatory arm of the
Department of Agriculture
with a brand new logo.
The agency retires its
25-year-old logo and gains a
new one as it prepares to turn
a new leaf as the “VOICE and
BRIDGES” of Filipino
farmers and fisherfolk.
The refurbished logo bears
a representation of people with
linked arms forming a circle
around symbols of agriculture
and fisheries, with the name
of the agency encircling the
illustrations into one whole
imagery.
The new logo was the
winning entry in the agency’s
logo design contest which ran
from September to November
2012.
The NAFC Board of
Judges chose the winning
logo out of 98 entries based on
originality, creativity, graphic
appeal and interpretation.
The winning design came
from Jessa Mae Loresto, a
senior Chemical Engineering
student at the University of
the Philippines-Los Baños, who
received P50,000.
On November 22, 2012,
Loresto personally received
her check from NAFC officials
led by Executive Director Ariel
Cayanan. Loresto shared a tidbit
of information on the process of
designing her entry: “When I was
thinking about what constitutes
a council, I thought of people.
I also did some research on the
history, mission and vision of
NAFC. I thought that the logo
should be simple but would
speak volumes on what NAFC is
about because [a logo] is a visual
language.”
“I had a little bit of a
dilemma when it came down
to the colors. Then, one day,
as I was having lunch with my
NAFC logo design contest grand winner Jessa Mae Loresto
(Top photo) with NAFC officials led by Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan.
Consolation prize winners Alfredo Bamba, Jr. (below, left
photo) and Gaylord Delgado (below, right photo) receiving
their prize checks from NAFC.
mother, inspiration hit me. I then
quickly made some doodles on a
placemat,” she narrated.
Loresto, who had also
previously won in a logo design
contest, said that she will use
her winnings to fund her thesis
writing.
“Our previous logo has
served its due purpose for a
long time. I think it’s time for
it to rest. The new logo best
represents what NAFC is all
about. It effectively conveys
to the public our mandate
as the main mechanism for
stakeholder participation in
decision-making for agriculture
and fisheries modernization,”
NAFC Exec. Dir. Cayanan said.
Meanwhile, consolation
prize worth P5,000 were each
given to Alfredo Bamba, Jr.
of Quezon City, David John
Cayetano of Sorsogon, Gaylord
Delgado of Muntinlupa City,
and Robert Satorre of Davao
City.
PGPC training equips members on postharvest operation
The Philippine Grains
Postproduction Consortium
(PGPC) conducted an Integrated
Trainors’ Training on Advance
Postharvest Facilities (PHFs)
Operation and Entrepreneurial
Development on November
26 to 30, 2012 at the NPGC-
NFA, Echague, Isabela to orient
some 40 representatives from its
member agencies on the latest
postharvest trends and research
breakthroughs, with emphasis on
grains postproduction technology,
postproduction facilities,
its operation/maintenance,
economic analysis and its
entrepreneurial component.
The participants were
from NAFC, University of
the Philippines-Los Baños,
PhilMech, PhilRice and National
Food Authority (NFA). NFA
Region 2 Director Danilo Pastrana
pointed out the importance of
the training on postharvest as
a requirement in achieving the
government’s goal in rice selfsufficiency.
He added that the
postharvest technology plays a
big role in reducing postharvest
losses which sometimes results
to large losses and reductions
in the actual production. Dr.
Romualdo Martinez of PhilMech
stressed that the training will
empower PGPC members
on the aspects of postharvest
operations, maintenance and
entrepreneurial component.
Topics were based on
six modules and they include
Rice Industry Situationer
and Government Initiative/
Intervention (Food Staple
Sufficiency Program); Stages
and Status of Agricultural
Mechanization (from Land
Preparation to Harvesting);
Grain Drying; Grain Milling
and Storage Principles; Grains
Standardization; Technology
Utilization of Biomass-Fed
Furnace; and, Enterprise
Development. The participants
also toured around different
postharvest facilities in the
area, such as the Echague NFA
Facilities, Mindanao Grains,
NABCOR and Private Rice Mill
(H.Co), to experience the hands-
on operation of the said facilities.
Some of the participants in
the training will serve as resource
persons for the future trainings to
be conducted in support of NFA’s
PHF/Dryer Development Project
funded by the DA in line with the
Food Staple Sufficiency Program.
October to December 2012 7

US PL480
projects
showcased
at AgriLink
2012
To spread awareness on
DA projects that help boost the
country’s livestock and dairy
industries, NAFC teamed up with
the Bureau of Animal Industry
(BAI) and National Dairy
Authority (NDA) to showcase
four major US PL480 livestock
projects at the 2012 AgriLink,
FoodLink and AquaLink held
from October 4 to 6, 2012 at the
World Trade Center, Pasay City.
These projects are the
Goat Production Project for the
Accelerated Hunger Mitigation
Program (AHMP), Accelerating
the Genetic Resource Improvement
Program for Beef Cattle and
Small Ruminants (AGRIPBeS),
the Multi-year Dairy Animal
Procurement and Breeding Program
to Upscale Heifer Production
for the Local Dairy Industry
and the Milk Feed Plus Project.
On the first day of the exhibit
last October 4, DA Secretary
Proceso Alcala was joined by
NAFC Executive Director Ariel
Cayanan, Foundation for Resource
Linkage and Development Inc.
(FRLD) Chairperson Dulce
Gozon, DA Assistant Secretary
for Livestock Davinio Catbagan,
US Department of Agriculture
Counselor Philip Schull, French
Ambassador Gilles Garachon,
AgriLink/FoodLink/AquaLink
2012 Chairperson Ricardo Alba,
BFAR-Region 3 Director Remedios
Ongtangco, and International
Federation of Organic Advocate
Movements President Andre Leu
in formally opening the exhibits.
This year, the country’s
premiere international trade
exhibit in agriculture, food and
aquaculture, organized by FRLD,
highlighted the theme “Improving
Animal Productivity Beyond
Medication” and focused on
livestock and poultry sectors,
including its products and services.
Sec. Alcala and Mr. Schull,
together with Asst. Sec. Catbagan
and Exec. Dir. Cayanan, led
the awarding of certificates of
appreciation to six dairy multiplier
farms for their participation in
NDA’s Dairy Multiplier Farm
Program under the Multi-year
Dairy Animal Procurement
and Breeding Program to
Upscale Heifer Production
for the Local Dairy Industry.
A certificate of animal
ownership was also awarded to
Pedro Gabilo, Jr. of Angono,
Rizal who had received one
buck and five does Saanen
goats under the AGRIPBeS.
Certificates of recognition and
appreciation were given to four
AGRIPBeS beneficiaries as well.
Aside from the exhibit, NAFC,
BAI and NDA also spearheaded
seminars on “Corn Silage, Cassava
and Malunggay as an Alternative
Feed and Feed Supplement for
Dairy Cattle” and “Native Chicken
Production”. Resource speakers
were Prof. Myrna Galang, Prof.
Noe Velasco, Ms. Jeddah Lyn
Sanchez and Dr. Rene Santiago.
NAFC Quarterly is produced by the
Communication and Information Delivery Section-
Planning, Monitoring and Communication Group 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: Executive Director Ariel T. Cayanan
General Supervision: Celeste C. Villena, Chief, PMCG
Over-all Production: Shirley G. Pascua, Chief, CIDS
Layout Artist: Apolonio Macaisa
Writer: Erika Vizcarra
DA Sec. Proceso
Alcala and FRLD
Chairperson Dulce
Gozon, joined by
NAFC Exec. Dir.
Ariel Cayanan, lead
the ribbon-cutting
ceremony to formally
open the 2012
AgriLink, FoodLink,
and AquaLink trade
fair on October 4
at the World Trade
Center.
Strengthening capacities in
agri-fishery trade negotiations
A series of seminars on
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS)
and Technical Barriers to Trade
(TBT) was conducted by NAFC
and the DA Policy Office for
planning officers, agribusiness
and marketing assistance officers,
banner program coordinators,
and provincial agriculturists in
DA Regional Field Offices to
orient them on the principles of
SPS and TBT and their practical
application on Philippine policies.
The activity, which was funded
under the US PL480-assisted
project “Strengthening Capacities
DA allots P40M
to boost mango
industry
The DA has allocated an
initial P40 Million to boost
the country’s mango industry,
Agriculture Secretary Proceso
Alcala announced during
the 14th National Mango
Congress held last November
13-16 at the JCM Convention
Hall in Mandaue City, Cebu.
The amount will be used to
fund initiatives under the five-year
development plan of the Philippine
Mango Industry Foundation, Inc.
(PMIFI) where P10M will be
used to provide production inputs
and rehabilitation of mango farms
affected by the recent typhoons,
while P30M will bankroll
other PMIFI projects next year.
This commitment was
made by the DA Secretary in the
presence of around 500 mango
farmers, processors, traders,
in Agricultural and Fishery Trade
Negotiations and Agreements,”
also highlighted the implications of
the country’s SPS and TBT actions.
The seminars were held on October
8 to 10 at the Great Eastern Hotel,
Quezon City for participants from
Luzon B (Regions 4A, 4B and
5) and on November 21 to 23 at
Oxford Hotel, Clark, Pampanga
for participants from Luzon A
(Regions 1, 2, 3 and CAR). NAFC
Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan and DA-
International Relations Division
Chief Noel de Luna also graced
the first of the two seminars.
exporters, input suppliers, local
government heads and agriculture
officials who attended the event.
Among the attendees were
NAFC National Mango Action
Team Chairman Antonio Rola
and members of the Food Crops
Sectoral Committee secretariat.
The 14th mango congress
was organized by PMIFI, in
coordination with the Provincial
Government of Cebu, City
Government of Mandaue, DA
Regional Field Office VII and
the Regional Agricultural and
Fishery Council VII, with the
theme “Enhancing the Country’s
Economic Growth Thru Efficient
Mango Production and Increased
Investments in Mango Tourism.”
The event is held annually to
update the industry stakeholders
on the current state of the
mango industry as well as on
new technologies and studies
on mango for promoting the
development of the industry.
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