The Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga welcomed its new Officer-in-Charge Regional Executive Director (OIC-RED) in the person of Alberto D. Ocampo, Jr. today, January 16 at the DA Regional Office 13 through a brief turnover ceremony.

Director Ocampo is the Chief Agriculturist of the Field Programs Coordination and Monitoring Division of DA Central office and has been in serving in the government for 35 years.

During the event, outgoing OIC, Regional Executive Director Renato P. Manantan handed over the 2017 Plan and Budget document together with the key of responsibility to Director Ocampo after a 6-month stint as RED in Caraga.

“As I accept the responsibility, I am asking for the full cooperation of everyone. All that we need to is to work hard and work hand in hand to accomplish the things we need to do as a region,” Ocampo said.

Ocampo also bared the directives of Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol in accomplishing the goals to achieve available and affordable food for all. “We need to speed up and accomplished the remaining 2016 targets while 2017 targets should already be on the procurement process”, he added.

Ocampo also stressed to focus resources on production and intensify hybridization to fast track rice development in the region.

DA-Caraga commits to support its new Officer-in-Charge following the additional directives of the Secretary to fast track implementation of agricultural services in the region.