DA CENTRAL LUZON LEADS REGIONAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
City of San Fernando, Pampanga – The Regional Management Committee Meeting was conducted by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 3 at the DA-RFO 3 Conference Room on October 6, 2020.
The said activity was spearheaded by Regional Director Crispulo Bautista Jr. together with DA’s attached and partnered agencies includes the Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, Agricultural Training Institute, Agricultural Credit Policy Council, Bureau of Plant Industry -PQS, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.
The objective of the meeting is to discuss the updates of the various DA projects and programs related to the COVID-19 Response and Rehab Plan.The Technical and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) led by MGEN Jesus Fajardo AFP (Ret) gave an update in the TESDA TRES Initiatives, OFW Interventions, and Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster.
Director John De Leon of Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) discussed the implementation and process flow of the “Binhi e-Padala”, a digital voucher system that will ease the seed distribution to the local farmers under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Program.
A representative from Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization shared the different ceremonial turnover and distribution of Rice Machinery and summary of Mechanization Technologies requested by Farmers Cooperative and Associations in provinces of Region 3.
Director Ma. Veronica Concepcion Esguerra presented the training, strategic communication services, development of RCEF Learning Sites, Program Management of the ATI.
After the discussion concerning the RCEF Program, a representative from the Regulatory Division informed the committee regarding the African Swine Fever Situation and status of the indemnification payment to the affected hog raisers.
To assist and help stabilize the income of agricultural producers, the PCIC Regional Director Ma. Lilian Aguilar shared their insurance programs and services such as Rice and Corn Crop, Livestock, Fisheries, High-Value, and Credit and Life Term Insurance.
Moreover, representatives from ACPC gave an update in the continuous implementation of Sure Aid and Sure Hog Loan Programs and Kapital Access for Young Agriprenuers (KAYA) and other loan programs.
On the other hand, the Bureau of Plant Industry-PQS represented by Regional Manager Laarni Mary Roxas discussed its prompt response to the crop affected by Fall Armyworm.
Lastly, the DA-RFO 3’s Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division Chief Arthur Dayrit presented the accomplishment report of the programs and projects implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 8,947 food passes and 9,518 IATF-EID IDs were issued to different agricultural personnel.###
Writer/Photographer: Rica Geda Salas