BONTOC, Mountain Province – In a concerted effort to promote transparent and accountable governance, the Cordillera office of the Department of Agriculture (DA), in collaboration with the Mt. Province Provincial Agriculture’s Office, conducted a Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meeting in Caluttit, Bontoc, Mt. Province recently.
This gathering supported the government’s commitment to ensure that stakeholders, particularly farmers and fishers, are not only well-informed but actively engaged in the decision-making processes that directly impact their lives. It served as an inclusive platform for direct interaction between the agency and stakeholders, promoting enriching discussions and an open forum conducive to dialogue.
During the assembly, OIC-Assistant Field Operations Division Chief Beverly Pekas expressed the significance of this initiative within the framework of new governance. Pekas underscored the role of a responsive, accountable, and dependable government, stressing the opportunity for participants to familiarize themselves with the various programs, services, guidelines, and requirements offered by the agency. “There are numerous programs and services provided by the DA that you can avail. Today presents a crucial occasion, and I urge you to actively participate in the open forum, ensuring that proposed projects move forward smoothly,” emphasized Pekas.
The agenda included topics ranging from Rice Farmers Cooperatives and Associations Clustering to the Intervention Monitoring Card, alongside the KADIWA Program and the Young Farmers Challenge under the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division. Other important points included civil society organization accreditation, Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) registration, Regulatory Programs and Services, as well as the services of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Agricultural Training Institute, and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.
APCO Mountain Province Pedro Pinos-an applauded the active engagement of participants and extended gratitude to the presenters for sharing insightful information. He explained on the essence of maximizing the government’s limited resources, mentioning the participative approach where farmers and fisherfolk are integral from planning to implementation. “Our aspiration is to transform Mt. Province into a bastion of promising communities, not only catering to local demands but also contributing to regional needs and potentially exporting products,” said Pinos-an, concluding with a quote from Jack Ma: “Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.”
The town hall meeting was attended by about 150 male, female, and young farmers and fisherfolk, including OIC-Provincial Agriculturist Rolando Bragado, Hon. Ezra Samson Gomez, Mary Jane Tumapang, BFAR Assistant Regional Director Lois June Fermin, and other provincial staff. Educational campaign materials were also disseminated during the event. By Leny D. Mendoza
