Building Agriculture & Fishery By Planning/Implementation

By Eden DR. Bautista, PhD

Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez will deliver his keynote speech to stir into action the participants in a three-day planning workshop.

The Local Government Units, which are the focus of all national interventions, must be equipped with personnel capable of designing and pursuing projects that can help enhance barangay and municipal economies. To complement this noble task, the Provincial Agriculture & Fishery Council (PAFC) and Provincial Government of Aklan in coordination with the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center VI (ATI-RTC VI) and the 17 LGUs of Aklan will conduct a three-day, live–in Planning Workshop on Strengthening the Planning and Management Capabilities of Local Government Units (LGUs) Executives and Agriculture Fishery Councils (AFCs). This will be held at ATI-RTC VI Conference Hall, Banga, Aklan on February 26-28, 2008.

The course is aimed to strengthen the municipal officials’ capabilities in management of agriculture and rural development programs, projects and activities in the Province of Aklan. Specifically, the participants will be able to revisit the Municipal Agricultural Development Plan (MADP) vis-à-vis the Municipal Investment Plan; ensure that the development plans of the LGUs specifically the MADP is part of the Municipal Investment Development Plan and up to the provincial level. Also, the Workshop will review and identify existing/continuing agricultural projects needed to enhance the economy of each municipality; recommend expansion of highly deserving projects/programs for legitimization; identify relevant farm activity(ies), projects, programs that will merit project expansion and resolution to concerned funding or sponsoring agencies for fund augmentation; and update the MADP and recommend for enactment into local ordinance.

A total of 55 participants from the 17 Municipal Agricultural & Fishery Councils (MAFC), 17 Municipal Agriculturists (Mas), 17 Municipal Planning Development Coordinators (MPDCs), 17 Sangguniang Bayan (SB) for Agriculture, Provincial Planning and Development Office and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist will attend. The expected output is the Municipal Agricultural Development and Investment Plan which will serve as blue print in the next five years of each town and the Province of Aklan.

A pool of competent Resource Speakers are invited to discuss and share their learnings on current issues on agriculture and fishery. Mr. William Castillo, OIC, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist will discuss Management of Agricultural Extension at the Provincial Level. Ms. Mila Andrade of the Altavas LGU-OMA will talk on Agricultural Extension at the Municipal Level: A devolved Experience. Strategic Issues in agriculture and fishery: rural development concerns, policies and programs by Ret. Gen. Frederique Romero of Aklan Seed Growers Association and Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente of Aklan PAFC.

Dr. Allan V. Alimodian of ATI-RTC VI will share the New Agricultural & Fishery Agenda based on the proposed Philippine Agriculture & Fishery Extension Agency (PAFEA). The LGUs are expected to share also their respective 10-Minute Accomplishment Report with focus on unique initiatives, challenges met, problems encountered and solutions made, and lessons learned. These will be highlighted with the Deployment of Personnel and Review of Present projects/ Programs/Activity implemented. /MP