PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur - The province of Agusan del Sur remained strong in its commitment to further develop the agriculture sector in the province during the presentation of the Rapid Appraisal result and the Collaborative Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Program (CPAFEP) on May 25-26, 2023 at Hygeia IntegraMeds, Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

The participants actively participated in the discussions, especially during the presentation of the Rapid Appraisal terminal report by the Caraga State University (CSU). There were some items that need to be clarified, updated, or rectified. Dr. Rowena Varela, one of the Project Team Leaders from CSU, explained that their team is willing to accept additional data or information from the LGUs for the research result to be acceptable and closer to reality.  

The draft CPAFEP was also critiqued by the LGUs and National Government Agencies (NGAs). It was agreed that the PLGU will give the municipal/city LGUs one week to finalize their three-year plan. This will then be consolidated by the PLGU following the recommendations and agreements during the meeting.

Engaged in the two-day activity were Provincial Agriculturist Armando G. Valiente; Executive Assistant IV, Michael Leo Torralba; Dr. Konielou Berdin of the Provincial Veterinary Office; APCO Chief June Anthony Ouano; CSU Project Team Leaders Dr. Varela and Dr. Raquel Balanay; and Municipal and City Agriculturists; and other representatives from the LGUs, NGAs, and academe.

The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 13 funded the activities. The agency was represented by its OIC-Center Director in the person of Dr. Jessie V. Beldia.