Interview with OIC-Executive Director Noel A. Juliano

IN THIS ISSUE...
ISSN 1656-7277
Volume 12 No. 4
www.nafc.da.gov.ph
Small irrigation project rehab....................p2
Preparations for National Water Forum...p3
LEAD starts up 64 livelihood projects.....p3
2KR knowledge showcase.........................p6
Agri-aqua exhibit........................................p7
Japan-PHL marks completion of 8th
non-project grant........................................p8
October to December 2010
Interview with OIC-Executive
Director Noel A. Juliano
“
Any administration’s
thrust is self-sufficiency in
food. The private sector
must become the champion
of this thrust.
The NAFC Quarterly asked OICExecutive Director Noel A. Juliano
questions that the staff believes
are in everyone’s minds since
he took on the leadership role
in the esteemed agency of the
Department of Agriculture in
August this year. Below are the
questions and his responses:
What is the current administration’s
thrust for farming and fishing in the
country? Always it has been that any
administration’s thrust is to have food
”
on the table at reasonable prices and selfsufficiency in food through increase in
yield of plantation or high value crops and
livestock and fishery. It is the strategies in
achieving self-sufficiency that has been
quite consistent and the basic premises are
on genetics, chemical fertilization and toxic
remedial. With it comes the statement of
motherhood and nation of increasing or
augmenting the marginal farmer’s income
which has been said and documented
for so long. The current thrust now is fine
tuning the .same strategies, synchronize
production and marketing, but, NOW ADD
biotechnology in farming.
NAFC’s proposed AFMech law
discussed in House hearing
The proposed Agriculture and Fisheries
Mechanization (AFMech) Law, which was
crafted through the participatory processes
in the NAFC, has been tackled by the House
of Representatives Committee on Agriculture
and Food (CAF) on December 1, 2010.
In his explanatory note to the bill, CAF
Chairperson Mark Llandro Mendoza said
“mechanizing Philippine agriculture and fisheries
will improve our land and labor efficiency.”
The AFMech bill has three-fold objectives.
It seeks to “fix implementing structure within
the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the
LGUs and its inter-agency collaboration so
that farm mechanization support services
shall be effectively and efficiently delivered
even up to the barangays.”
It also aims to “strengthen machinery
testing and evaluation, standards development
and enforcement and monitoring through
accreditation and monitoring system to ensure the
provision of quality machinery and equipment.”
Finally, it targets to “strengthen local
manufacturingtolowerdowntheinvestmentcosts
and the establishment of agri-fishery machinery
service centers in key production areas for custom
plowing, harrowing, harvesting, drying, milling,
and other services which may be owned and
operated by registered farmer cooperatives
and associations.”
Turn to page 7 >>
What is the role of NAFC in promoting
these thrusts? The main role of NAFC is
to consult the private sector on issues of
agriculture, micro or macro level. NAFC
comes up with documented resolutions
from a public hearing with that certain
sector to recommend a policy that the
Department of Agriculture may adopt to
make the implementation of strategies for
the thrusts more efficient. In other words,
NAFC becomes the data consolidator
and processor of issues in agriculture
for regulation. Without any regulation
of the agricultural processes or in any
Turn to page 4 >>
AKBAY Program
ready for rollout
Ready to roll!
This was the mood when the provincial
and regional partners of the NAFC completed
the final consultative workshop on the
Agrikultura: Kaagapay ng Bayang Pinoy or
AKBAY program guidelines.
The forum, which also included
a planning session, was held from
December 7-8, 2010 at the University
Hotel, UP-Diliman campus. It followed the
first AKBAY workshop conducted in July.
All regional and provincial coordinators of
the Livelihood Enhancement for Agricultural
Development (LEAD) 2000-Phase II program
October to December 2010
Turn to page 8 >>
NAFC, BSWM work to enhance 2KR-funded small irrigation project
NAFC, led by the Special Projects Division (SPD) and the Local Support Coordination Division (LSCD), monitored the implementation of small scale
irrigation projects in selected provinces under the 2KR-assisted Rehabilitation of Small Scale Irrigation Projects for Upland Productivity and Resource
Sustainability (RSSIPUPRS) Project.
The activity was done to determine
the status of project implementation
and recommend strategies to further
improve project execution.
The series of monitoring sorties was
carried out by the monitoring team of
NAFC, together with the Bureau of Soils
and Water Management (BSWM), initially
from June 22 to July 16, 2010, in Aklan,
Capiz, Iloilo, Pangasinan and Tarlac.
Follow-up activities were done from
November 15 to 21, 2010, in 10 other provinces where the project was implemented.
The BSWM leads implementation
of the project which is funded under
Japan’s 2KR facility.
Of the 29 SSIP project, 19 were
monitored. The team found that of the
19, 17 were completed and operational
while two are still under construction.
Some of the issues gathered were: the
lack of active irrigators’ associations (IAs) to
maintain and sustain the structures’ operation; need for increased budget requirement
for rehabilitation of some proposed SSIPs as
a result of further deterioration of the structures thru time; and lack of signages/
markers citing the funding/collaborating
agencies for promotional purposes.
The team recommended: a) the
creation of a composite evaluation
team for the review and evaluation of
the proposed projects focusing not only
on the technical specifications of the
rehabilitation works and benefits to be
derived, but more so on the recipients’
capability to maintain the facility; b)
conduct of regular M&E by the Regional
Agricultural Engineering Group (RAEG)
to ensure that all rehabilitation works
are in accordance with the approved
program of work; c) proper coordination
among the various cooperating agencies
for more effective and efficient project
implementation and harmonious working
arrangements; d) the conduct of capability
enhancement trainings for the farmerbeneficiaries to ensure their commitment
to the project; and e) to make sure that
all project disbursements are properly
liquidated to facilitate succeeding releases.
These recommendations were among
the foci of discussions during the twoday workshop, initiated by the BSWM
last November 30 to December 01, 2010
in Clark Field, Pampanga.
The activity was aimed at improving
the system of management, program
execution M&E and promotion for the
next batches of SSIPs for rehabilitation.
It was attended by the key officers
of the BSWM, led by Engineer Arnulfo
Gesite (Chief, Water Resources Division),
and Tess Sandoval and the monitoring
team of NAFC, headed by Mr. Elmer
Estiandan (Chief, LSCD) and Ms. Elgie
Namia (Chief, SPD).
Meantime, a “Year-End Review and
Planning Workshop” for the project was
also held last November 21-23, 2010 in
Punta Villa, Arevalo, Iloilo City.
The event was conducted to look
into the accomplishments made from
the CY 2009 funds and to work closely
for improved project implementation,
specifically of the succeeding targets.
Some of the outputs that emanated
from the activity were the revised
implementing guidelines, draft MOA, list
of target-SSIP sites to be rehabilitated
for CY2011, and timeline/plan of the
RAEG on the conduct of coordination
and monitoring activities.
The activity was spearheaded by the
BSWM, headed by Director Silvino Tejada
and was participated by the various representatives from the RAEG and NAFC. •
PROJECT PARTNERS under the small-scale irrigation project rehabilitation program prose for souvenir shots after the seminarworkshop for improved project M&E (top right) and year-end assessment and planning workshop (bottom right).
Above, small irrigation dam in Pangasinan and the joint monitoring team in action.
2
October to December 2010
Preparations
for
LEAD starts up 64 livelihood projects national water
The Livelihood Enhancement for Agricultural Development (LEAD) forum underway
Program, the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) pro-poor banner program
implemented by the NAFC, has assisted 64 organizations start livelihood
and livelihood support projects this year that would benefit over
3,700 individuals in the country’s marginalized sectors.
LEAD has shelled out some P8.49
Million for these projects that would
be undertaken by groups composed
of farmers, fisherfolk, out-of-school
youths and rural women.
This year’s output brings the
total number of projects under the
current phase of the program, called
LEAD 2000 Program Phase II to 792,
which have been funded to the
tune of some P197.68 Million. The
micro-livelihood and support service
projects benefit some 262,197
individuals nationwide.
A long-running program, with a
track record of over two decades,
LEAD is a social intervention program
designed to assist marginal farmers’,
fishers’, out-of school youths and
rural women’s organizations develop
sustainable sources of livelihood and
support services.
It provides financial assistance for
the beneficiary-organizations’ livelihood
and skills enhancement activities. It helps
grassroots organizations establish financial
track records to enable them eventually to
access formal credit programs managed by
financial institutions.
A demand-driven and participatory
program, LEAD has been implemented
by NAFC with the assistance of its local
counterparts, the municipal, provincial
and regional agricultural and fishery
councils or AFCs, the local governments
and the DA-Regional Field Units.
The AFCs are the DA’s consultative
mechanisms at the regional and local
levels. It is composed of farmers and fisherfolk organizations, cause-oriented nongovernment organizations, members or
representatives of the academe, business groups, agriculture and fishery focused officials of the Local Government
Units, and representatives the regional
field units of the DA and the DA’s Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The
AFCs meet quarterly to discuss agriculture
and fisheries issues and concerns and recommend ways to resolve them. •
Director Juliano attends
RAFC X meeting; donates computers
NAFC OIC-Executive Director Noel
A. Juliano attended his maiden regional
agricultural and fishery council (RAFC)
council meeting in Northern Mindanao
on October 27, 2010, and turned over
computer equipment to help enhance
the council’s operations.
In his remarks at the meeting held
in Sugod, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao
del Norte, Dir. Juliano said that one of
his administration’s major goals was to
strengthen the NAFC and its network
of AFCs.
He took the opportunity to
demonstrate his commitment to this
goal by donating seven desktop and one
laptop computer, and eight printers.
The equipment were to support the
operations of the provincial agricultural
and fishery councils (PAFCs) in Camiguin,
Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur,
Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental.
At the RAFC meeting proper, RAFC
chairperson Edgardo Layug discussed
operational concerns of the Livelihood
Enhancement for Agricultural Development (LEAD) Program, particularly in
the collection of the project’s roll-over
funds (ROFs).
ROFs are repayments for the noninterest bearing, non-collateral start-up
funds for the sub-projects undertaken
by beneficiary-groups.
A landmark, highly participatory microfinance program, the LEAD engages
the AFCs in the identification, development and monitoring and evaluation of
its subprojects nationwide. •
In preparation for the conduct of a
national multi-sectoral forum on achieving
water security, which would conclude
the series of area conferences conducted
middle of this year, the NAFC hosted
a perspective-setting meeting among
agencies involved in the conservation and
use of the country’s water resources.
The national forum shall be the
culmination of the multi-tiered nationwide
consultation on water entitled “Charting
Our Water Future: A Multi-Stakeholder
Policy and Program Dialogue” started
during the first semester. From June 7 to 23,
area-wide consultations were conducted in
Cagayan de Oro, Bohol and Clark.
The meeting was held November 24,
2010 at the Apacible Conference Room
and was participated in by representatives
of local government units (LGUs), the
private sector, civil society organizations,
peoples’ organizations, and national
government agencies, like the PRRC,
LWUA, LLDA, CHED, DepEd, DTI, DENR and
other DA attached agencies and bureaus.
Ms. Estrella Tulay, former NAFC OICDeputy Executive Director and chief
meeting coordinator said “the meeting
aimed to set perspectives on achieving
water security.” Specifically, it aimed
to review the issues and concerns raised
during the various regional forums, and
formulate an integrated plan of action
for sustainable water supply specially for
agriculture and fisheries.
Specific focus areas tackled were
technology and innovations, economic
and legal concerns, knowledge,
information and education and policy
and governance.
The integrated response would then
be presented and validated during the
national forum that may be conducted in
the first quarter of next year.
Some meeting participants have
suggested to integrate the results of
the water forum in the Medium-Term
Philippine Development Plan, 20112016, that is currently being crafted by
the National Economic and Development
Authority. •
October to December 2010
3
Q & A with OIC- Director Juliano, from page 1
other process for that matter, from production
to marketing, the rich get richer and the poor
get poorer. In context, the exercise touches on
attempts of equal wealth distribution while
producing the food the populace needs.
The NAF Council:
• Acts as an advisory body to the DA
• Monitors & coordinates agriculture
and fisheries modernization
• Serves as integrative and consultative
structure for inter-agency and intersectoral collaboration in agriculture
and fisheries
• Develops policies, plans and programs
to support participatory and
consultative governance
outlooks in the total picture of our country
in the third world category. The stints I
had with the courts gave me a chance to
witness the little experiments what some
of my true friends were doing in the field of
agriculture, which by the way, is my choice of
path in my studies. I finished B.S. Agricultural
Engineering at UPLB and took up my Masters
of Management in Agribusiness (major
academic requirements only) from the same
school. I never got the chance to finish my
masters’ thesis because at that time (1983),
the local economy started faltering with our
family debt accruing at the Development
Bank of the Philippines.
In your view, what aspects of current or
future NAFC operations support these
thrust/s? In my view, through the publicprivate partnership, the engagement and
sustainable involvement of the private
sector, provision of effective capability
development activities, mobilization of
social capital and other resources will
support the thrusts and directions of the
Department as well as the NAF Council.
What needs to be enhanced or introduced
in relation to these thrusts? The Department
is now advocating for more people to go
into farming, organic style. The NAF Council
should make a recommendation to the
Secretary of Agriculture and the President
The AFCs from the regional/provincial/
municipal/ barangay levels:
• Serve as an avenue for consultative
discussions within the agriculture and
fisheries sector
• Facilitate participatory processes
involving AFCs
• Formulate policy and program
recommendations for sustained country
side development
• Provide quality service
What marching orders have you received
from the President, for instance, or the
Secretary of Agriculture? So far, I have
just consumed my first 100 days (as of this
document) in office as I have yet to receive
marching orders. Or perhaps in my current
capacity as Acting Deputy Director and at
the same time OIC Executive Director, is
to support the thrusts (programs, projects,
activities) and directions (policies, influence,
authority, governance) of the DA. Second, to
have an internal reorganization, for NAFC to
be more responsive and effective in service
delivery, and, third, I have initiated through
the AFCs to adopt an alternative farming
system through the nutrition farming to
bring back the soil and micro environment
to its natural state/order as well as bring
down the cost of farm inputs but eventually
increasing yield/production.
What is your professional and educational
background? During the last six years,
I worked as a Corporate Rehabilitation
Receiver in various Regional Trial Courts and
as a court officer for Sta. Agueda Enterprises,
Inc., RADPHIL Philippines, Inc., BC Gorospe
Builders, Inc. and FERCOM Marketing, Inc.
These experiences in the courts gave me
more wisdom as to how the Philippine
justice system worked and have added some
more disappointment but not discouraging
4
October to December 2010
What elements in your personal history
recommend you for the NAFC leadership?
Curiosity on how the animal kingdom
reacted to bacteria and fungi action
prompted me to aim for the NAFC position
again, as I have attempted to apply for this
position during the last two administrations.
Why NAFC? To my contention it is the best
venue to start campaigning that agricultural
production can be done without any or with
very minimal synthetic chemicals or poisons.
With the NAFC leadership I could sway the
private sector to start nutrition farming
or widely known now as organic farming,
without compromising the Department of
Agriculture’s role as the regulator prime
mover. The food supply has to be addressed
now, today, this very moment. Ten to fifteen
years from now, we Filipinos may have the
money to import food but the supply may
also not be there.
Add to these elements in my personal
history my stints in the courts as corporate
rehabilitation receiver which has given me
confidence on how to approach and deal
with anybody, any person from any sector,
Filipino or foreigner. Further add the NAFC
leadership and I have the power and legit
designation to do all these implementation
of strategies.
of the Philippines to really implement,
give recognition and incentives for farmers
who are into organic farming. Actual
demonstration of the nutrition farming
system must be introduced through the
private sector. On the supply of farm inputs,
there is a need to introduce the system
to other private suppliers so there will
be competition thus chances of lowering
further the cost of farm inputs become
greater. There are four basic farm inputs
in nutrition farming and one of these are
fungi which other DA agencies are already
experimenting with.
The other enhancements which I deem
needed are: 1) Implement the volunteer
management program for the AFCs by
institutionalizing/incorporating the budget
with NAFC. 2) Connect the AFCs with donor
countries who are supportive or countries
with established volunteer management
program or activities. 3) Advocate for
policies, development programs and
activities to strengthen the AFCs.
What changes have you introduced since
your appointment? I have already talked
and convinced a few people and farmers
in the RAFC-3 (Regional Agriculture and
Fishery Council) Region 3 to start nutrition
farming in rice. Through RAFC-3 Chairman
Jess Simon, they are going to start to plant 80
hectares of rice using the nutrition farming
system which is by the way U.S. technology
also, with origins from the University of
Missouri, the prime academe of soil science
and organic farming in the U.S.
sector, the AFCs in the monitoring of funded
projects assures the presence of check and
balance in disbursement of project funds.
The experience of the past hopefully will
never happen because of the President’s
pronouncement in his inaugural speech of
“Tahakin ang tuwid na daan” setting the
standard for good and clean governance.
In terms of organizational structure
management, I believe I have broken down the
barriers of the factions to the rate of 90% inside
the existing org structure. What I want for NAFC
in terms of its organizational capacity is harmony
and unity, although I consider this as a cyclic
phenomenon, it is always best to start and run
an organization with at least 75% harmony in it.
What improvements would you introduce?
Since majority of fund management is at not
at NAFC’s end, the best improvement is to
rally and unite NAFC personnel to implement
strict monitoring of the funds that were
downloaded to the different agencies, a
happy organization does its work well; that
is the first step. In terms of rendering work,
What activities are planned? Right now, I
am reviving the RAFCs, somehow pumping
new blood into what was dormant and
stagnant before by not only visiting their
regions and participating vigorously
in their meetings. NAFC is planning a
Quarter-Century AFC Celebration for
our volunteers. From 1986 to present,
our AFCs have been our partners so it is
about time to have a big celebration to
commemorate the creation and existence
of the AFCs for the past 25 years.
What are your operational thrusts
this coming year? Basically, there are
five divisions in NAFC, the Finance
“
I am reviving
the RAFCs, visiting
their regions and
participating
vigorously in their
meetings
”
The NAFC continues to manage hundreds
of millions of pesos in ODA (Overseas
Developmental Assistance), particularly
from the Japanese Government grants
and U.S. soft loans. How do you assess
current management of these funds? The
current management of the ODA funds is
generally with the Special Projects Division
(SPD) of the NAFC which selects the
projects for the different attached agencies
for downloading. Prior to selection, the
SPD asks the permission and approval
of the specific project with the countrydonor. It is the agency where the funds are
downloaded who are actually managing
the same funds, only 10% is retained with
NAFC for monitoring and control reports
which are regularly submitted with the COA
and the budget and accounting department
of NAFC. The management of the funds
at the downloaded agency sometimes
poses a problem due to the large amount
and the supplies that are connected to the
purchasing of such for the specific project.
With the presence of DA-RFUs and
participation of the AFCs, the downloaded
funds can now be prudently and judiciously
managed. The participation of the private
the systematic and robotic current work
can yet be streamlined if it were broken
down in simple flow charts, analyzed,
then recommend how work can be made
easier; that is the second step. The third
step is making work fun to do; this is the
hardest part because it requires day-to-day
impromptu change of management style.
You become not only the director but the
actor as well and the work force must learn
to like you and vice versa especially if all
your actions come from the heart.
In specific terms, what can the
stakeholders expect from you and
the NAFC workforce in 2011? The
stakeholders can now expect a dormant
but awakening NAFC volcano, plain,
simple and specific; NAFC will be an
avenue where the issues and concerns of
the farmers and fisherfolks can be heard,
discussed and resolved. NAFC’s battle cry
is: LET’S DO OUR AGRICULTURE!
For the NAFC employees, there should
be corporate maturity wherein the work
culture is one of commitment, dedication,
facilitation, friendly, courteous. In short,
“it is service par excellence”.
and Administration Division (FAD), the
Agricultural Support and Coordination
Division (ASCD), the Local Coordination
Division (LSCD), the Special Project Division
(SPD) and the Planning, Monitoring and
Communication Group (PMCG). The first
operation is to reorganize the whole org,
with probable creation of a new division
which I should not reveal at this point
because it may not come out as a surprise.
The best combination of re-org is under
study in my individual files inside my head.
The next phase is to streamline the work
by using accounting techniques on funds
flow, where the buck starts and stops can
easily be identified, but how it gets here
from there takes analysis of operations,
the hardest part of all, i.e. operations
research, after which fine tuning can be
systematically done.
Lastly, it would not hurt to pray that I be
given a chance to serve with NAFC for the
next five and a half years. •
October to December 2010
5
Learning and knowledge market showcases 2KR projects
FAIR PARTICIPANTS AND AWARDEES POSE WITH VIPs led by Japanese Ambassador
Makoro Katsura, DA Undersecretary Joel Rudinas, NEDA Deputy Director-General
Rolando G. Tungpalan and IFAD Country Programme Manager Sana F.K. Jatta.
Left, NAFC-SPD’s head Ms. Elgie Namia (top) and staff pose before the NAFC booths.
Eleven (11) NAFC-led and NAFCsupported programs and projects joined
a host of other similar initiatives in a
showcase that featured government
and non-government undertakings
whose implementation generated lessons in catalysing development.
The event was the First RP-Japan 2KR
Exhibits and IFAD Learning and Knowledge
Market which was staged from October
12-13, 2010 at the SM Megatrade Hall 3.
Its theme was “Shared Resources, Shared
Development.”
IFAD stands for the International Fund
for Agricultural Development, a UN agency
dedicated to eradicating rural poverty. The
IFAD exposition is organised every two years.
The activity was aimed at promoting
sustained investment, up-scaling proven
technologies and best practices for potential
users and investment partners, and spreading
public awareness and appreciation for them.
The event marked the first time that
NAFC’s programs and projects, funded
under the Japan Grant Assistance for the
Food Security Project for Underprivileged
Farmers, more known as the 2KR
Program, were promoted alongside IFAD’s
knowledge sharing event.
The 2KR programs and projects showcased
in the event were the: Barangay Food Terminal:
Biyaya sa Talipapa Project of the Philippine
Center for Postharvest Development and
Mechanization; Technology Management for
Competitive Agriculture and Fisheries Sector
6
October to December 2010
of the Bureau of Agricultural Research;
Enhancing Rural Employment Through
Villaged-Based Dairy Enterprise of the
Philippine Carabao Center; Fisheries
Grassroots Outreach (FishGRO) Project
of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources-National Integrated Fisheries
Technology Development Center; Support
System for the Tipid Abono Fertilization
Program of the Bureau of Soils and Water
Management (BSWM); Rehabilitation of
Small Scale Irrigation Project for Upland
Productivity and Resources Sustainability
also of the BSWM; Regional Freshwater
Fisheries Center’s Continuing Capability
Building for Integrated Development of
Bicol Freshwater Fisheries of the BFAR V;
Rehabilitation of Agricultural Development
Project for Aganan River Irrigation System
of the National Irrigation Administration
VI; and Livelihood Enhancement for
Agricultural Development; Support to
Young Filipino Farmers; and Farm Level
Grains Center of the NAFC.
The 2KR programs and projects exhibits
highlighted the sustainable development
principles on which implementation is
anchored, specially the mode by which people’s
organizations, non-government organizations,
specially the agricultural and fishery councils
(AFCs), and the private sector participate in all
phases of the program and project cycle.
Speaking during the opening ceremony,
DA Undersecretary Joel Rudinas stressed the
importanceoftheeventinshowcasingcountryside
products which utilized rural resources and at the
same time promote collective development. For
his part, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines
Makoto Katsura underscored the Government of
Japan’s expectation that the assistance given to
the country should foster socio-economic
development, as well as empower and uplift
the rural areas.
Usec Rudinas and Mr Katsura did the
ceremonial honors for opening the exhibits
along with IFAD Country Programme
Manager Sana F.K. Jatta and NEDA Deputy
Director-General for Programming Rolando
G. Tungpalan.
The event also included an investment and
policy forum and product demonstrations. Six
forums were held: Making Socially Relevant
Projects Economically Viable; Innovative
Financing Supporting Value Chain; Investing
in Rural Infrastructure Maximizing; ICT for
Rural Productivity; Valuing Local Initiatives;
and Investing on the Youth for Agricultural
Development. A featured technology was
Fish-GRO developed: called “Tala-isdaan”
(tala derived from the word talaba), the
technology encourages the culture of
oysters together with fish in the same
facility. It minimizes the negative impact
of aquaculture, and optimizes the income
capacity of fish and oyster farmers.
In the product demo, value-adding
techniques for breaded tilapia filleting
and bangus deboning were taught. These
technologies were demonstrated by Janiel
Odiamar and Monette Buena from the
Regional Freshwater Fisheries Center in
Bula, Camarines Sur, and Nikki Villadolid
and Joseph Anthony Basa from Asian
Fisheries Academy in Dagupan.
Participants also competed for the
Best Booth 2KR Project Category citation,
which was won by the National Irrigation
Adminstration-Region VI. •
Joint NAFC-BAI projects
highlight agri-aqua exhibits
Two recently approved projects, jointly
implemented by the NAFC and the
Bureau of Animal Industry, highlighted
the Agrilink, Foodlink and Aqualink 2010
Exhibit held from October 7-9
at the World Trade Center.
Supporting the exhibit theme “Good Agricultural
Practices:Key to Competitiveness,” and its focus on small
ruminants, NAFC and BAI showcased the Goat Production Project
for the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (GPPAHMP) and
the Accelerating the Genetic Resources Improvement Program
for Beef Cattle and Small Ruminants (AGRIPBCSR ) during the event.
The projects are aimed at increasing the incomes of the local
livestock growers through the importation and propagation of
top quality goat and sheep from the US. These imported stocks
shall be infused into the local stocks to upgrade the genetic
makeup of the country’s small ruminant breeder base. The
smallhold farmers will serve as the ultimate beneficiaries of
these genetic improvement projects.
Both projects are funded under the US PL480-Title I Program.
A short programme showcased the GPPAHMP and ceremonially
“jumpstarted” the AGRIPBCSR with the ceremonial turnover of
animals. The event was organized by NAFC and BAI, in partnership
with the Federation of Goats and Sheep Association of the
Philippines (FGASPAPI). The program was conducted at the NAFCBAI-FGASPAPI booth on the first day of the Exhibit.
During the program, the GPPAHMP project showcase was
unveiled by DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and Mr. Jeffrey G.
Willnow, area director of the US Department of Agriculture. The
showcase provided a brief description of the project and stressed
its contribution to the attainment of the objectives of alleviating
poverty, promoting good nutrition, contributing to food security
and livelihood in the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program
(AHMP) priority areas, as well as supporting the attainment of
the Millennium Development Goals.
Six farmer beneficiaries were then awarded certificates representing
their right to receive imported breeder goat and sheep under the
AGRIPBCSR. The livestock farmers initially provided with goats were
Mr. Efren Bartolome from Luzon, Mr. Robert Eddie Aguilar from Visayas,
and Mr. Francisco Peñaranda Sr. from Mindanao. The initial recipients
of sheep included Mr. Robert Supnet from Luzon, Mr. Robert Yu from
Visayas and Mr. Joven Chua from Minadanao. The distribution of
certificates was also led by Sec. Alcala and Dir. Willnow.
From page 1
NAFC’s proposed AFMech law....
Rep. Mendoza said “the proposed AFMech
Law will…effect a new period in the agriculture
sector marked by agroindustrialization in the
countryside and urban migration to rural areas.”
“With the increase in farm production and
income, and emergence of agro-processing and
machinerymanufacturing,repairandmaintenance
enterprises, more livelihood and employment
opportunities shall be created,” he added.
Mechanization is a key ingredient to an
effectiveagricultureandfisheriesmodernization
IMPORTED GOAT AND SHEEP STOCKS were distributed
under the NAFC-BAI’s genetic pool upgrading program funded
under the US PL480-Title I Program during the agri-aqua fair.
The reception that followed featured food products from goats
and sheep, which were produced by the members of the FGASPAPI.
Both international in character, the Agrilink is an annual
agribusiness exposition and seminar while Foodlink is an annual
food processing, packaging and product exhibition. The Aqualink
is a national fisheries exhibitions and seminars. Normally, these
are staged separately. All are organized by the Foundation for
Resource Linkage and Development annually with support from
the DA and the NAFC.
The events aim at strengthening the partnership between
the government and the private sectors. Likewise, they provide
impetus on the DA’s thrust of boosting the agricultural sector
of the country, particularly our livestock industry, through the
dissemination of useful knowledge and information about good
agricultural practices on raising small ruminants.•
program. However, in a study, the Congressional
Oversight Committee for Agriculture and
Fisheries Mechanization (COCAFM) noted the
dismal situation of farm mechanization in
the country. The study traced this situation to
“inadequate and fragmented support services
and promotion program, proliferation of
substandard machinery and limited farmers
access to appropriate and affordable farm
machinery and equipment.”
During the committee hearing, chaired by
CAF vice chairperson Peter M. Unabia, the CAF
members present decided to consolidate the
bill with similar five other bills, and conduct a
similar hearing in January next year.
Others present in the hearing were
representatives of ten (10) congressional
districts, several DA bureaus and attached
agencies, Commission on Higher Education,
Professional Regulations Commission,
Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers
and Distributors Association, Philippine
Society of Agricultural Engineers and
cooperatives and NGOs. •
October to December 2010
7
Japan-PHL marks completion of 8th non-project grant
The Department of Agriculture and the
Japanese Embassy marked the completion
of delivery of ammonium sulphate fertilizers
under the Japan’s 8th Non-Project Type Grant
Assistance (NPGA) during the off-loading
of the last shipment of the commodity on
October 12, 2010 at Poro Point, La Union.
Present during the ceremonies were the
Japanese Embassy’s Minister for Economic
Affairs Akio Isomata who ceremonially
turned over the fertilizer shipment to
Mr. Crispulo Bautista, Regional Technical
Director of the DA’s Regional Field Unit I.
In his remarks, Mr. Isomata expressed
his strong hope that the assistance would
serve as another bridge that would
strengthen the strategic partnership
between Japan and the Philippines.
The grant was provided by Japan in
February 2009. The grant consisted of 42,
184MT of the fertilizer and was valued at
700 Million Yen. Japanese Ambassador
Makoto Katsura and Secretary of Foreign
Affairs Alberto Romulo signed the Exchange
of Notes for the NPGA8 on February 13,
2009, at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The turnover of the commodity was
witnessed by representatives of farmers, the
local government units of La Union, the
regional agricultural and fishery council
and the trader that won the bid for the
distribution of the commodity named
Danat Fertilizer Corporation.
Japan has provided the country
eight (8) tranches under the grant
since 1991. The total value of the eight
NPGAs amounts to 15.8 Billion Yen,
approximately 8.0 Billion Pesos.
These NPGAs have enabled the NAFC
to procure commodities such as fertilizers
and soybean meal which are necessary for
the Philippines to improve its economy. •
FINAL SHIPMENT. The Japanese Embassy’s Minister of Economic Affairs
Akio Isomata (3rd from left) witnessed the offloading of the last fertilizer
shipment under the 2009 Japanese Non-Project Type Grant in Poro Point,
La Union. He was joined by (from left) Mr. Norberto Ulap, farmer
representative from Bacnotan, La Union; Ms. Cecilia Lupisan, NAFC-SPD
assistant division chief; San Fernando City Mayor Pablo Ortega; DARFU I Regional Technical Director Crispulo Bautista; Danat Fertilizer Corp.
President Rene Venturina; and Region I AFC Chairperson Vincent Adorna.
Akbay rollout...
From page 1
participated in the workshop. Now wrapping up, LEAD is the long-time
pro-poor program of the Department of Agriculture that is implemented by
the NAFC. AKBAY follows the LEAD template, but with its focus on farming
households as its beneficiaries, is considered an enhancement of the latter.
In his opening remarks, OIC-Executive Director Noel A. Juliano
exhorted the participants to “get the ball rolling!”
The participants found the program guidelines sound; issues raised
involved only clarifications on some provisions. They then drafted and
submitted their respective work plans that included criticial activities
and timetable to jumpstart the program in their areas. The activities
included identification of the priority province’s 4th to 6th class
municipalities, in coordination with the local DILG offices and provincial
planning offices; initial identification of beneficiary-households, and
validation of list by the agricultural and fishery councils. •
GET AKBAY ROLLING. OIC-Director Noel A. Juliano exhorted the
prospective regional and provincial coordinators of the newly minted
AKBAY program to give the guidelines a once-over before they are
legitimated by DA Secretary Proceso Alcala, and plan the initial
activities to jumpstart the program in their areas.
Marcelino Anao, 67
NAFC recently lost its long-time photographer. Marcelino Anao passed away on October 9 in his hometown.
Lino, as he was fondly called, lived a simple life in Barangay Porac, Botolan, Zambales after he retired two
years ago. He served as the agency photographer from 1972 to 2008. Lino was survived by his wife, the former
Asuncion Gallari Benavidez, and his four children.
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October to December 2010
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) 928-8741 loc.2605 • www.nafc.da.gov.ph •
[email protected] • Adviser: OICExecutive Director Noel A. Juliano;
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