ISSN 1656-7277 Volume 6 No. 2 April to June 2020 PP CAF CAF the COVID-19 edition QUARTERLY

Coping with the 2020 challenges

n just a snap, the world has changed. I When the country’s economy was disrupted by the Coronavirus or commonly known as COVID-19, putting the entire Luzon in an enhanced community quarantine in March 16, the agriculture sector played a major role in pursuing a socio-economic response framework to the government’s recovery efforts. Although agricultural activities have been allowed to continue during the community quarantines, it is also undeniable that there have been activities that were put into halt in compliance to the government’s safety measures and protocols. And just like that, everyone was forced to let go of what has been normal. One of AFC Online Kamustahan those are face-to-face meetings, dialogues and consultations between the Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), and the industry’s private sector partners. PCAF’s Advisory Special Body (ASB) members have been voicing out issues and 7th Anniversary Online Mass concerns, both at the local and national level through face-to-face meetings for more than three decades. As the country goes through unfamiliar order, the ASB members, who are mostly over 60 years old, were compelled to find new ways to voice out issues and concerns, and craft MFO Validation Party See next page Minimum health standard (virtual and face-to-face meeting)

facebook.com/DA.PCAF e-Newsletter Follow Visit www.pcaf.da.gov.ph On the e-Infographics us on: twitter.com/da_pcaf us on: Web: e-Express Coping with... sound policy recommendations to aid the strategies: 1) expanded value chain-oriented pandemic-stricken industry. membership; 2) action-oriented policy During this time, PCAF, as an agency, deliver, 3) ASB affiance to sectoral impact also embraced its new “service brands” to linkages, and 4) result-based organizational recalibrate its strategies focused on COVID-19 development. efforts, but still aligned to its mandate. These efforts contribute to the DA’s The agency fully operationalized the endeavor to farmer’s and fisherfolks’ Innovative Consultation on Agriculture and concerns on food productivity and Fisheries Policy Reforms and Engagement availability, food accessibility and mobility, or known as “i-CARE” program that holds and price stability, even in the height of the value creating strategic shift with four key pandemic.

The CONSULTATION

A s part of the new normal, PCAF’s We When DA launched its initiative to Collaborate with Networks of Agriculture ensure food security for the entire country and Fisheries Stakeholders to Unify and Lead by mitigating the effects of COVID-19, the Transformation (WeCONSULT) transitions Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council from conventional face-to-face meetings (RAFC) saw the need to conduct their to online consultation through various respective video conferences to capture the digital platforms to ensure the safety of the issues and concerns at the municipal and participants. provincial levels. With their expertise, the Although there is a shift, PCAF still ensures RAFC Chairpersons and members provided the high-quality standard of output in the immediate actions to these issues. consultations.

Screenshots of online consultations of DA officials and PCAF’s private sector stakeholders. 2 The MONITORING

3 The MONITORING

T he pandemic forced the agency to of Civil Society Organization accreditation, refocuse its monitoring activities and registry system for basic sectors in approach. agriculture, and other similar activities. As per DA memorandum dated April Under the guidance of PCAF’s We 14, 2020, it directed all its bureaus, attached Transform Results into Actions through agencies and regional field offices (RFOs) Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing to refocus its activities under the General (WeTRACK), AFCs conducted weekly Appropriations Act for the remaining validation of food prices of basic months of the year into activities in line commodities in supermarkets and public with DA’s objectives that will enhance food markets as reported by DA and/or local price productivity, food supply availability, food coordinating councils. accessibility, and food price stability. AFCs also monitored the implementation DA also gave instructions to ensure food of the Social Amelioration Program, a cash productivity and availability which includes subsidy program provided by the national the engagement of government agencies and government to low-income families during private sector in monitoring of COVID-19- the pandemic. The AFCs specifically related policies and programs to make sure monitor the provision of the cash assistance transparency in the process. to farmers and fishers in their respective As the mechanism for private sector localities. participation in development processes at The Council also monitored the the regional, provincial, city and municipal implementation of the components of the levels, the Agricultural and Fishery Councils Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Kontra (AFCs) focused the monitoring activities sa COVID-19 or popularly known as Plant, based on the Memorandum of Agreement Plant, Plant Program at the regional and local between PCAF and DA-RFOs with regard levels. The monitoring also included the DA- to transfer and utilization of the AFC capacity development activities for farmers monitoring fund. and fishers making sure that the good The activities include AFC monitoring agricultural practices and technologies are of various DA and PCAF-assisted projects properly utilized to increase food sufficiency and activities, which includes the validation level.

4 AFCs ON THE MOVE

PAFC conducts PAFC Occidental Mindoro leads the monitoring of certified seeds before shipment a meeting on May 20 about seed to Lubang Island. allocation and distribution.

RAFC conducts an online operational meeting on May 21 to assess the readiness of the AFCs in conducting consultations and meetings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

PAFC North conducts a dialogue on April 15 with North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco to discuss the shortage of rice supply in the province. The province need 80 thousand rice yet the National Food Authority can only supply eight thousand.

The dialogue resulted into a consultation meeting with Gov. Catamco and grain millers who will help augment milled rice supply in the province. The province was able to raise 14 thousand bags from private millers that will be immediately delivered to the families affected by the community quarantine.

PAFC joins the Philippine National Police at the province’s They also conduct monitoring and field quarantine checkpoints to monitor vehicles carrying food and basic necessities validation of prices of farm produce and basic are in compliance with the IATF rules. commodities in public market as agreed on the price freeze issued during the state of calamity. MAFC Lutayan in joins Lutayan’s Local Government Unit in seed distribution to the beneficiaries of DA’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund program on May 5.

Members of MAFC Palimbang assist DA-Regional Field Office XII in packaging and selling agriculture products at the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita on Wheels in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat on May 12.

RAFC meets DA regional officers and Banner Programs coordinators to discuss the formulation of Food Resiliency Plan on April 20 to ensure the stable supply of affordable food and demand of basic food commodities during the pandemic.

To reduce the effect of oversupply of farm produce, MAFC Midsayap introduce a beauty soap making training using overripe tomatoes.

The training-demo was conducted on April 23 which was attended by farmers, MAFC members and staff from the office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Cotabato. 6 For the employees of PCAF, one of “Kamustahan at Kulitan with the AFCs”. the anticipated occasions of the agency Although some of the Regional AFCs have is its anniversary. Rather than cancelling been busy with their activities with regards the celebration because of the pandemic, to DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program, the private employees were able to celebrate in an entirely sectors, who are mostly in their 60s, have different way. been in their respective homes throughout PCAF’s seventh anniversary theme the pandemic and PCAF staff want to know centered in “celebrating partnership with how they are coping up with the situation agriculture and fishery stakeholder for policy and reminisce some of those unforgettable reforms and engagement” even in the midst activities over the past years. of a challenging situation, the agency and its “Dito sa sitwasyon na meron tayo, lahat tayo employees are “7-dipitous” (serendipitous). nag-aadjust. Pero as we adjust, let us appreciate “Despite the situation, PCAF is 7-dipitous. yung mga magagandang nangyari, mga We are all situated in a very unusual time where natututunan, at mga pwede pang mangyari. we find fortunate discoveries because we have With this activity, we just need to be happy and worked for this and we are overly prepared,” have a positive outlook in life as we celebrate said PCAF Acting Executive Director Dr. Liza our partnership,” said PCAF Acting Exec. Dir. Battad. Battad. The weeklong celebration started with Also part of the celebration was the showcase a Knowledge Unloading event on Mental of PCAF’s new service brands in the agency’s Health for the employees called “Wellness exhibit booth. Led by Dir. Battad, the ribbon- and Happiness: the PCAF Way” via Zoom with cutting was attended by Undersecretary for PositiviTrix founder Trixie Esguerra. Operations and Agri-Fisheries Ariel Cayanan, The activity was also in line with Civil Undersecretary-designate and concurrent Service Commission’s call to “promote mental Chief-of-Staff Cheryl Marie Caballero, Special health programs in the workplaces through Assistant for Communications and Media education which can raise awareness on Affairs Noel Reyes and other DA, bureaus and mental health issues, correct the stigma and attached agencies officials. discrimination associated with mental health PCAF’s 7th anniversary celebrated conditions,” particularly during this time of employees who have served the government COVID-19 pandemic. for years through the Loyalty Award and those The event is exclusive for PCAF’s central who served during the pandemic was given and regional employees and will have another special awards, including the security guards four sessions which will be participated by 30 and janitors. employees per batch. This year’s loyalty awardees are Angelina The agency also took time to check on its Alison, Mary Ann de Leon, Ditas Matulac, volunteer-partners from the AFC through the Jose Redentor Besenio, Jovita Gonzales, See next page 7 Arlyn Robrigado, Percival Figueroa, Ceneza The celebration was participated by other Dacumos, and Abraham Dollente. employees and private sector stakeholders via This year, PCAF also recognized its Google Meet and Facebook Live. A symbolic employees who were retired and about retire. E-toast marked the modest celebration, They are Herminia Delos Reyes, Elgie Namia, not only to aspire protection for all against Arcenia Perez, Josie Reigo and Magdalena Go. COVID-19 but also a continuous partnership PCAF also commemorated the service with the agri-fishery stakeholders for policy of late employees Mina Riego and Miriam reforms and engagement. Aguilar.

PCAF Acting Exec. Dir. Battad (center) leads the anniversary ribbon-cutting ceremony with Bureau of Soils and Water Management OIC Director Sonia Salguero (leftmost), DA Chief of Staff and USec. for Agri-Industrialization and for Fisheries Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero (2nd from left), Usec. for Operations and Agri-Fisheries Mechanization Engr. Ariel Cayana (2nd from right), and Special Assistant for Communications and Media Affairs Noel Reyes (rightmost).

Editorial Adviser: Liza G. Battad, Ph.D. General Supervision: Estrella V. Tulay Overall Production: Rachelle A. Ayllon Layout and words: Jezebel D. Campaniel

The editorial team encourages everyone to photocopy and circulate this newsletter with proper acknowledgment. Everyone is also encouraged to contribute stories of individuals or organizations engaged in the development of the agri-fishery BUSINESS MAIL communities. ENTERED AS FIRST CLASS Postage Paid at Q.C. Central Post Office Please e-mail [email protected] or mail Under Permit No. 3C-08-11-057-NCR Subject for Postal Inspection THE EDITOR, Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries, 3F Apacible Hall, Department of Agriculture, Elliptical Road, Diliman, City 1101. You may also visit our website at www.pcaf. da.gov.ph