BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Cordillera (DA-CAR) consulted with the Civil Society Organization (CSO) for the FY 2025 Plan and Budget proposal, aiming at fostering participatory budgeting within the DA and expanding the collaborative partnership with CSOs in a progressive manner. This was held on February 13, 2024 in Guisad, Baguio City.
In her opening remarks, DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Atty. Jennilyn M. Dawayan said that the DA-CAR’s budget is not only the agency’s but the farmers and fishers of the Cordillera as well, “Your inputs in the plan and budget is really important, so please give your suggestions based on your consultation in your areas. I really hope that we have a meaningful consultation as there is a marriage between the government and the private sector,” she said.
She also shared the initiatives taken by the Agriculture chief Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. since he assumed office last year, and the issues raised during a dialogue with the highland vegetables stakeholders conducted last January, such as smuggling, importation, logistics and expensive farm inputs, among others.
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED) Chief Dr. Susan D. Balanza presented the Policy Frameworks highlighting that the FY 2025 plan and budget proposal must be consistent with the Philippine Development Plan, National Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization and Industrialization Plan, Ambisyon Natin 2040, and with their agriculture and fishery-related laws and issuances. These define the long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipinos and the current administration’s thrusts, priorities, and strategic agenda.
She said that the consultation with the CSOs is vital as they are the ones who are the experts in the field, and are therefore able to validate and affirm DA’S priorities for FY 2025.
She also outlined the strategic plans of the DA Multi-Year Plan (MYP) 2023-2028, including programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) to be executed over the next six years. These initiatives align with the objective of attaining food security and enhancing the value chain. The plan incorporates short-term strategies to address immediate challenges in the agriculture sector, as well as medium-term and long-term strategies to secure the nation’s food security.
The MYP is based on the directives of National Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization and Industrialization Plan 2021-2030, and Approved Commodity Industry Roadmap.
Moreover, prioritized elements of the plan include enhancing local production, minimizing production costs, modernizing agriculture, ensuring the accessibility of safe and nutritious food, implementing PPAs to enhance food mobility and logistics, increasing the income of farmers and fisherfolks, and suggesting interventions to support recently enacted agricultural laws.
DA’s banner programs namely Rice Program, Corn Program, Livestock Program, High Value Crops Development Program, Organic Agriculture Program, National Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP), and special programs Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program and Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4K) Program presented their target PPAs and proposed budget for next year, as well as the budget comparison of 2024 and 2025.
The CSOs also laid out issues, concerns and necessities, commonly on expensive farm inputs, inadequate agricultural facilities, and marketing. To address them, they suggested The CSOs’ recommendations for FY 2025 will be included in the plan and budget proposal to be presented in the Regional Development Council. By CEWaytan
