MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) program embarks on its first quarter of implementation assessment on April 18, 2017 with its first steps toward alleviating poverty across the Philippines.
Since its kick off this year, the SAAD program reaches its first four months of implementation in the top ten priority provinces (2017) with the aim of providing agricultural and fishery assistance to the marginalized farmers and fisherfolk.
Participating regions (Cordillera Administrative Region, Negros Island Region, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Zamboanga Peninsula) attended the said assessment workshop graced by its Program Director Lerey Panes and the Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol. Representatives from various attached agencies and offices were as well present to share ideas and partake in the assessment.
Panes warmly welcomed all the people working on the SAAD program and shared passion and encouragement to carry on better service for the welfare of the local farmers and fishermen. Whereas Piñol urged everyone to deliver what is due to the mentioned sectors, which are in great need of government aid, particularly of agri-based interventions.
With his short message, Piñol reminded each participant to always think out of the box and work beyond the four corners of the office. He advised all SAAD personnel to be proactive in implementing the program as well as inspired them to never underestimate the power of unconventional and “crazy good ideas” for these might actually lead to greater results.
Following such are reports from the National Program Management Office (NPMO) on the SAAD’s general implementing guidelines as presented by Ulysses Lustria Jr., SAAD’s National Program Officer, and updates on the Operations and Monitoring and Evaluation, Information Technology, and Public Relations, Communications & Database clusters led by Maeflor Gabunales-Barol (National Program Officer), Kristine Eusebio (Operations and M&E head), Camilo Andi (IT Consultant), and Crystal Alviela (PR Officer).
This was immediately followed by the presentation of the quarterly reports of the regions started by the Eastern Visayas (Region VIII), which handles the provinces Northern, Eastern, and Western Samar respectively.
A forum was conducted after to clarify concerns and issues relative to the implementation of SAAD.
The 1st Quarterly Assessment of DA-SAAD, held at the DA New Building, Elliptical Rd., Diliman, Quezon City, will proceed until April 19, 2017 with the rest of the regions’ quarterly reports and other related matters. ###
