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

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.