The 黑料网 formally opened this year鈥檚 Areawide Participatory Performance Review and Planning Workshops with the Visayas Cluster session in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on August 12鈥�15, 2025.
Nearly 100 stakeholders came together, including members of the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Councils (RAFCs)鈥擱AFC Western Visayas, led by Chairperson Buen Mondejar; RAFC Central Visayas, led by Vice Chairperson Joselito Albeos; and RAFC Eastern Visayas, led by Chairperson Miguel Pedroso.
For the first time in the history of these annual reviews, provincial agriculturists were invited to participate, along with provincial AFC representatives, local government partners, and PCAF officials.
In her video message, PCAF Executive Director Bernadette De Los Santos underscored the value of the workshops: 鈥淭his workshop, while familiar in form, should not be taken as routine. It is a dynamic venue that reflects PCAF鈥檚 continuing commitment to institutionalize feedback, promote innovation, and amplify grassroots voices.鈥�
The review and workshops are held annually to provide a venue for assessing performance, surfacing implementation challenges, and generating responsive, inclusive, and gender-sensitive recommendations to enhance the operations of the agency鈥檚 consultative bodies. They reflect the Department of Agriculture鈥檚 thrust for inclusive and participatory governance, with PCAF at the center as its consultative hub.
Spotlight on Sagip Saka Act
A key highlight of the Visayas session was the discussion on the Sagip Saka Act (RA 11321), which promotes stronger market linkages and enterprise opportunities for farmers and fisherfolk. Project Development Officer Lars Lerry Panganiban from the Office of Atty. Joycel Panlilio, Assistant Secretary for High Value Crops, walked participants through the Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. PCAF Administrative, Financial, and Management Division Chief Cyril Soliaban further explained the roles of PCAF and the AFCs in ensuring that the law鈥檚 objectives are realized on the ground.
Stakeholders strongly supported calls for greater involvement of the AFCs in the implementation of the Sagip Saka Act. Toward this end, the body prepared a position paper proposing amendments to its Implementing Rules and Regulations to include the formulation of guidelines defining the AFCs鈥� role, particularly in the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Program.
They also pushed for full tax exemptions for enterprises covered by the law and for the inclusion of compliance with the law as a criterion under the Seal of Good Local Governance.
Agreements and priorities
Participants also underscored the importance of more effective monitoring of DA programs and projects, with recommendations to explore new tools such as drones for future monitoring efforts. Another recurring priority was the call for localized procurement of mechanization equipment such as tractors and dryers, to make interventions more responsive to community contexts.
On the draft PCAF Strategic Plan 2026鈥�2031, suggestions included emphasizing food availability and accessibility, refining the framing of resilience, and encouraging stronger participation of local governments in future planning exercises.
Other agreements covered fund utilization and liquidation, consultation mechanisms, and more efficient feedback on policy resolutions鈥攁ll geared toward enhancing accountability and responsiveness of governance systems.
Next in the series
The Visayas workshop is the first of a series of cluster-based reviews that will continue throughout the year. The Luzon A workshop will be held in September, followed by Luzon B and Mindanao A in October, and Mindanao B in November. The consolidated outputs from all sessions will serve as inputs to the national-level review and planning later in 2025. | Joy Camille Luza
