BONTOC, Mountain Province – Dr. Rolando B.Bragado representing Agriboard Chairperson and Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. facilitated the Provincial Agricultural Board 2nd quarter meeting at the 4th floor, Archog Hotel and Restaurant, Samoki, Bontoc, Mountain Province on April 30, 2025.
The meeting aims to have an avenue for constructive discussions among stakeholders based on the issues and concerns presented to further strengthen collaboration on agriculture and fisheries extension services.
Participants of this activity are members of the council from the following offices/private sector: Office of the Municipal Agriculturists and Office of the Sangguniang Bayan- Committee Chair on Agriculture, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, Office of the Provincial Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers (OPABE), Sangguniang Panlalawigan – Committee Chair on Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, the Provincial Governor – who is the chairman of the Agriboard, Agricultural Program Coordinating Office (APCO) – Mountain Province, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) – Mountain Province, Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Council (PAFC) President, and the Secretariats.
The Local Government Units (LGUs) play a crucial role in the delivery of agricultural services to the farmers, especially with the devolution of some important functions of the Department of Agriculture to Local Government Units under the Mandanas-Garcia ruling, which started in 2022. LGUs are on the frontlines in providing agricultural services to the local farmers. Nonetheless, the LGUs have been a partner of the Department of Agriculture in the implementation of its programs to enable the transformation of the sector into a resilient, modern, industrialized and globally competitive.
The Provincial Local Government Unit of Mountain Province has always been supportive of the Agricultural sector in the Province. Through the active role of the Agricultural Board Council, the agricultural programs/projects/activities related to crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries initiated or implemented by the LGUs are being updated/reported regularly to address issues and concerns through the conduct of meeting by the members of the council. This is per Provincial Ordinance No. 275 – an ordinance creating the Provincial Agricultural Board of Mountain Province which is a special body tackling issues and concerns related to Agriculture in the Province.
Meanwhile, Dr. Bragado started the meeting with the reading and adoption of the previous minutes of the meeting, and everyone discussed matters arising from it. After that, the status of farm machinery and agriculture infrastructure support was reported by Engineer Leticia F. Dacawe from the OPABE.
Updates on the Provincial Agricultural Programs or Projects were reported by Agricultural Technologist Rufino Piayas from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist. As for the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, Supervising Aquaculturist Josephine A. Dao-wan and Dr. Rodel B. Bagawi reported on the office’s programs and projects.
In addition, Aquacultural Technologist Roda F. Lampitao of the BFAR discussed the fishery projects.
The monitoring status of agriculture programs or projects of the PAFC was reported by Chairperson Robert G. Tambiac.
Updates regarding the Department of Agriculture Programs for Agricultural Program Coordinating Office were discussed by Senior Agriculturist and Dr. Pedro C. Pinos-anSenior Agriculturist and Dr. Pedro C. Pinos-an
The updates on the LGU-initiated projects were reported by the following municipal agriculturists and representatives: Bontoc Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAG) – Municipal Assistant Dept. Head Faith Pec-ao; Besao OMAG- Agriculturist II Helen Grail Asuncion; Bauko OMAG – Dr. Giovanne Rose B. Palao-ay; Sabangan OMAG – Agriculturist II Claire D. Focasa; Barlig OMAG – Municipal Agriculturist Ceferino Oryan; and Sagada OMAG – Municipal Agriculturist Peter T. Ticag
At the end of the meeting, the assessment of the 2025 Agro-Industrial Fair of the 2025 Agro-Industrial Fair which was part of the 58th Mountain Province Founding Anniversary and 18th Lang-ay Festival, was tackled. By MP-PIO
