The Provincial Agriculture Office of Agusan del Norte nodded in support to the implementation of the Provincial-led Agriculture and Fishery Extension System (PAFES) of the Department of Agriculture.

“This is a welcome moved for us since we are dealing directly with the farmers and it would hasten the delivery of services to them,” Alvin Aclan, Agusan del Norte Provincial Agriculturist said.

PAFES is one of the key strategies and initiatives to grow in agriculture in 2021 and beyond under the ONE-DA framework of Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar.

This is in pursuant with DA’s agricultural modernization and agro-industrialization thrusts through mainstreaming the implementation of programs in the provinces.

Through PAFES, LGU will be at the forefront in delivering extension services to the farmers such as the conduct of technology training, provision of farm machinery, production, and infrastructure support, downstream researches, and marketing.

Rebecca Reyes Atega, Regional Technical Director for Operations disclosed that as of now the preparation for the implementation of PAFES is on its way prior to its full implementation set in 2022.

“As jumpstart of the implementation, Agusan del Norte has been chosen as the pilot province,” she said.

In setting the direction, the agricultural program from the national, regional to local levels will be harmonized through the Collaborative Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Program (CAFEP) integrated into the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP).

“This is to ensure dynamic linkages among provincial, municipal or city LGU, DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, DA regional offices, and other bureaus including State Universities and Colleges, and the private sector,” Atega said.

As preparation, Aclan revealed that they are in the process of strengthening the capacity of the Provincial Agriculture Office.

“I already proposed to our provincial leaders to fill in the vacant positions and make way for the establishment of our engineering section for us to be able to respond to the need of our farming constituents,” he said. 

PAFES is an initiative of the DA in anticipation of the full implementation of the Mandanas Ruling which significantly boosts the financial capabilities of LGUs to implement agricultural programs and projects.

The 2018 Supreme Court ruling, on the petitions of Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas and former Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia Jr. stated that the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) must come from two-fifths of the collections of all national taxes including collections from import duties and other levies, on top of the BIR tax revenue. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA-Caraga)