BAGUIO CITY – “Today’s celebration symbolizes the change in DA-CAR,” said Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulatory Cameron P. Odsey.
He thanked everyone behind the success of the 2017 Team Building Activity and Christmas Celebration. He also recognized those who were present especially the newly appointed staff of the department who came from other regions. Odsey was referring to the newly appointed staff from nearby regions who are mandated help bring change to the DA-CAR this coming year.
Odsey also emphasized that despite the changes that is going on in the organization, they remain true to the core values of being united, being one, and being Cordilleran as demonstrated in the presentations during the Christmas Celebration.
“At this point in time, at the end of 2017, we should always keep in mind that DA-CAR was organized when the Cordillera Administrative Region was organized,” said Odsey.
“Over the years, the budget of the department to meet the needs for food sufficiency, availability of food, poverty alleviation depends on the budget given to us but 2017 has been a year of breakthroughs because we were able to get a budget of 1 billion pesos. So what I’m trying to say here is, our available budget for the office to help our partners, especially the farmers of Cordillera, is gradually increasing,” explained Odsey.
“Next year is an entirely different challenge,” he furthered. DA-CAR budget for 2018 is around 1.6 billion pesos, an increase of 0.6%, plus the budget for CHARMP 2, which is about 466 million, for a total of 2-billion peso budget will be available for the Department of Agriculture –CAR for 2018,” he added.
This is in time with the changes that the department went through as 2017 ends, he quoted. He identified the mass recruitment of 93 newly promoted and appointed staff that basically met the requirements of the rationalization plan for a full-pledged regional office of the DA as one of the changes. Second development for the last quarter was the change in leadership where RED Lorenzo M. Caranguian left and was changed by RED Narciso A. Edillo so there is a new head of office for the regional office as they face the challenges this upcoming 2018.
And lastly, the 100% increase of their budget that is available for the implementation of projects in 2018.
In spite of all the changes, Odsey wants to believe that the core values is still in them as demonstrated in their presentations. He asked the DA-CAR staff to continue the good work and good things that they do and forget the bad ones that happened. The double increase of resources will be a great challenge but he is sure that with the way that they have conducted themselves that night, there is no reason that they cannot do it. “So sa inyong lahat at sa mga hindi nakarating ngayon dahil sa anumang katwiran, tayong lahat sa DA-CAR, alam ko, kayang-kaya natin ang 2018,” ended Odsey.
The Research Division of the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Administrative Region reaped the Best Presenter Award during the department’s Christmas Celebration last December 21, 2017 at Green Valley Country Club, Baguio City. Other awards were given to the Regulatory Division as the 2nd Placer and Agri-Business and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) as the 3rd Placer. A special award was also given to Oliver Dulay who stood out among the presenters.
The Christmas Celebration also served as culminating activity of the Team Building of the department where the different divisions such as Field Operations Division (FOD), Admin and Finance Division, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED), Agri-Business and Marketing Division (AMAD), Regulatory Division, Research Division and Integrated Laboratories Division (ILD); and Special Projects that includes Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) and the 2nd Cordillera Highland Agricultural Management Project (CHARMP 2) showcased their own talents in singing and dancing.
Staff from the Office of the Director, RTD Daguio’s Office, Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS) and Special Areas for Agricultural Development (SAAD) served as judges for the presentations.
By Karen T. Gawigawen
