SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte – Governor Francisco Matugas signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) of the Provincial-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System (PAFES) on March 22, 2022 at the Philippine Gateway Hotel. This made Surigao del Norte the first non-pilot province in Caraga region to embrace the new extension system for the agriculture and fisheries sector.

The PAFES aims to modernize Philippine agriculture through a collaborative extension system steered by the Provincial Local Government Units (PLGUs). This move will help enhance rural livelihoods by sharing science-based knowledge and innovations with farming and fishing, families, rural communities, and agriculture enterprises through strong research-extension-farmer/fisherfolk linkages.

Prior to the MOA signing, several initial engagements and consultations were conducted in the province to firm up the partnership and ensure active participation of the PLGUs, concerned agencies, bureaus, academe, private sectors, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

Gov. Matugas expressed his gratitude to the Department of Agriculture for its strong partnership with the province. He pledged his support to PAFES as he looks forward to a more vigorous agriculture and fishery sector in his province.

The MOA signing was attended by DA-13 Regional Executive Director Engr. Ricardo Oñate Jr., ATI-13 OIC Center Director Fil Victor A. Babanto, representatives from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) - Caraga, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Surigao State College of Technology (SSTC), other National Government Agencies (NGAs), Local Chief Executives (LCEs), PLGU staff, and the private sector.