The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program CALABARZON aligned its objectives for FY 2025 and finalized catch-up plans for pending activities from 2024 through a meeting last January 13, 2025.
Now in its third year of Phase 2 implementation, SAAD CALABARZON refined strategies for effective and efficient project management based on lessons learned from previous years.
Dr. Wilmer S. Faylon, SAAD Regional Focal Person, underscored the importance of implementing standardized and well-documented monitoring and evaluation processes for project sites.
SAAD CALABARZON officers from all program units actively engaged in discussions to present their commitments and strategies for the year ahead. The meeting emphasized the need for collaborative efforts and efficient workload distribution across the eight municipalities being supported under the Food Production and Livelihood (FPL) Component.
For FY 2025, the Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO) has allocated a budget worth Php 39,594,000 for various livelihood projects based on the assessed needs of beneficiaries from the covered municipalities.
Initial distribution of resources began in the third quarter of 2024, and livelihood assistance continues with the planned distribution of agricultural equipment, including grass cutters, nets, plastic drums, and hand tools. These resources will benefit farmers in Tingloy, Alabat, Perez, and Quezon.
Engr. Francis Dale Algar, FPL Lead, emphasized the importance of timely resource delivery to enhance farmers’ productivity. “Equipping our farmers with the necessary tools is critical in addressing production challenges and ensuring the sustainability of their livelihoods,” Algar said.
The Marketing and Enterprise Development Sub-unit targets to assist and develop seven (7) Community-Based Enterprises (CBEs) in 2025, which will help farmer organizations engage in value-added production and marketing activities. These initiatives aim to improve income streams and enhance market competitiveness for local farmers.
The Information Technology and Database Development (IDD), Public Relations and Development Communication (PRDC), and Administration and Procurement (AP) Units have aligned their goals with those of the Operations, Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring, and Evaluation team.
In the discussion, Mr. John Carlo Narvacan, SAAD Regional Lead, highlighted the importance of using georeferencing and geotagging to monitor project interventions and evaluate their impact. The IDD Unit pledged its full support for implementing these tools to strengthen program oversight.
The PRDC Unit unveiled its plans for 2025, starting with the publication of the program’s first official magazine in the first quarter. Midyear, the team will release the 2024 Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Book Reports, followed by the rollout of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials tailored for newly-formed associations in Pakil, Rizal, Jomalig, and Patnanungan.
Meanwhile, the Administration and Procurement Unit committed to streamlining document processing and enhancing overall efficiency. The unit stressed the importance of inter-departmental collaboration to ensure the timely disbursement and obligation of funds.
As SAAD CALABARZON continues its mission to empower agricultural communities, the Program remains focused on delivering the tools, knowledge, and support necessary for sustainable growth. Through strategic planning and coordinated efforts, the program strives to foster inclusive development in the region’s agricultural sector. ###
