The Department of Agriculture- Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO 1) and the Agricultural Training Institute- Regional Training Center 1 (ATI-RTC 1) held the Harmonization Workshop for FY 2024 Agriculture and Fisheries Extension (AFE) Programs and Services and FY 2025 Proposed Plans and Budget on February 22, 2024 at DA-ATI-RTC 1, Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan. This yearly undertaking aims to synchronize and align AFE programs and services ensuring its relevance and meaningful outcomes in the farming and fishing communities.
The harmonization workshop was participated by the agencies’ banner and program coordinators for Rice, Corn, High Value Crops Program (HVCP), National Urban and Peri-Urban Program (NUPAP), Organic Agriculture, Livestock, Coconut Farmers and Industry Plan (CFIDP) and other major programs to include Information Services and Institutional Development. The Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council (RAFC) representatives were also invited considering the importance of major stakeholders’ involvement and inputs in the crafting of AF programs.
Aspiring to achieve a concrete and workable harmonized targets, this year’s harmonization workshop focused on the 3 C’s- Convergence, Cooperate, and Coordinate. The Convergence tackled on the complementation and sharing of resources in the implementation of programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) while Cooperate concentrated on the arrangement of schedule, coverage and beneficiaries to avoid duplication and conflicts. And Coordinate focused on the recommendations and endorsement of individuals and groups trained by the ATI-RTC 1 to become program beneficiaries of DA-RFO 1 or the beneficiaries of the latter to be provided with capability building services by the former.
Subsequent to the presentation of the DA overarching policies and the FY 2024 PPAs and FY 2025 AF Program Proposals, was a one-on-one consultation of the program coordinators both DA-RFO 1 and ATI-RTC 1 to align their targets under each banner program. Workshop outputs were presented and were polished through the comments and feedbacks provided by the ATI-RTC 1 Center Director, Dr. Rogelio Evangelista; Assistant Center Director, Dr. Josephine K. Aben; and the Provincial AF Council Chair of Pangasinan Engr. Orlando Rosquita and a council’s representative Mr. Antonio Pertudo, Jr.
The outputs in this harmonization will be presented to the DA-RFO Regional Executive Director, Dr. Annie Q. Bares, on March 8 during the Executive Committee Meeting.
The 3Cs used in the harmonization workshop are important for the four (4) core strategies set under the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP) 2023-2028 to work as mentioned by the DA Secretary.
