LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET. The Department of Agriculture released 1.1 million pesos to the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Benguet for the implementation of the interventions under the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System (PAFES). A ceremonial fund turnover marked the transfer of said fund at the Benguet Provincial Capitol on May 15, 2023. DA-Regional Field Office-CAR (DA-RFO-CAR) Regional Executive Director and CAR-PAFES RPMO Head Cameron P. Odsey, with ATI-RTC-CAR Center Director Charlie C. Sagudan, and BFAR-CAR Regional Director Lilibeth, handed the check to Benguet Governor Melchor D. Diclas. Members of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator and Benguet PAFES Provincial Management Group Chair Fidela A. Luis, Acting Provincial Agriculturist Delinia D. Juan, Acting Provincial Veterinarian Purita L. Lesing, and other PLGU department heads and personnel witnessed the check turnover.
PAFES will be the institutional arrangement in integrating the implementation of various DA programs and related support services with that of the local government units. It aims to further strengthen the capability of LGUs to implement and integrate multiple agriculture and fisheries programs with the provinces as the center for operations given the devolution of agricultural personnel and services at the local government level. Moreover, PAFES will strengthen the collaboration between DA, local government units, academe, and the private sector in the delivery of extension services. The System will be institutionalized to bring extension services to the grassroots level amid the challenges of devolution. With PAFES, the province serves as an extension hub that synchronizes agricultural plans and programs and orchestrates the various stakeholders' activities. DA will co-plan, co-invest, co-implement, and co-monitor priority projects in the provinces, particularly as they embark on commodity specializations to maximize comparative advantage.
Under the PAFES, the PLGU and MLGUs of Benguet, in partnership with the RPMO, farmer groups, and other PAFES stakeholders, crafted the Collaborative Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Extension Program (CPAFEP). The CPAFEP contains the extension projects which the province will undertake for the development of the agriculture sector in the province following the value chain. Benguet listed 17 priority commodities (9 for crops, 5 for livestock and poultry, 1 for fishery, and 2 for special commodities) in its CPAFEP.
