The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 12 strengthened its preparations for the FY 2026 Project Validation, Data Collection, and Beneficiary Profiling and Updating through activities led by the National Program Management Office (NPMO), including a preparatory meeting and a week-long courtesy visit and technical engagement.
In coordination with the NPMO, the SAAD Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO) conducted a preparatory meeting on January 22, 2026, to establish requirements, clarify roles, and align processes ahead of the FY 2026 activities. The meeting was led by Julie Mie Y. Belongan, SAAD Operations, Planning, Budget, Monitoring, and Evaluation (OPBME) Lead, with all SAAD Region 12 staff in attendance. Participants reviewed operational requirements, harmonized data-related processes, and identified key action points to strengthen coordination among units, ensuring accurate data collection, validation, and alignment for evidence-based planning.
Building on these preparations, the NPMO conducted a courtesy visit and technical engagement with the SAAD Regional Office from January 26 to 29, 2026, at the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office XII in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. The NPMO delegation was led by Saturnino Palahang Jr., Executive Assistant to the Director and Statistician; Randy Ocampo, Head of the IT and Database Development (ITDD) Unit; Jacquelyn Rebusit, Head of the Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development (MAED) Unit; and Ricky Motita, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PME) Focal Person for Region 12.
As part of the engagement, an intensive meeting on data identification, harmonization, and alignment was conducted on January 27, 2026, with unit heads, leads, and team leaders. This was followed by a pre-meeting and briefing with the Regional and Provincial Program Management Support Offices (RPMSO and PPMSO) on January 28, 2026, to align field-level processes and responsibilities.
A key component of the visit was the conduct of beneficiary profiling using the SAAD profiling form to help develop management strategies that ensure quality and reliable data collection. Two farmers’ associations in Sarangani Province were profiled: the Muslim Christian and Blaan Farmers and Fisherfolks Association (MCBFFA) in Malapatan on January 28, and the Nagpan Farmers Association (NFA) in Malungon on January 29, 2026. The engagement concluded with a post-meeting, evaluation, and assessment with the RPMSO and PPMSO teams.
These activities served as an important platform for finalizing validated data and updated beneficiary profiles that will guide program planning and implementation.
Emphasizing the importance of data utilization, Palahang noted, “We need to maximize and fully utilize the SAAD database system. From the database itself, the data gathered should already speak about the farmers.”
Through the successful conduct of the preparatory meeting and the NPMO courtesy visit, the DA–SAAD Program strengthened coordination between national and regional teams and ensured the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of data. This collaborative effort reflects the program’s continued commitment to data-driven planning, effective coordination, and responsive implementation, supporting the delivery of targeted, timely, and impactful assistance to marginalized farmers and fisherfolk across SOCCSKSARGEN.
