To firm up the work plan and budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 implementation, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) conducted its Regional Planning and Budgeting Workshop in this city on February 11-13, 2024.
The event gathered DA-SAAD CAR regional and provincial staff, along with members of the DA – Regional Field Office CAR Technical Working Group (TWG), to outline strategic priorities, refine budget allocations, and ensure alignment of initiatives with the program’s long-term objectives.
The workshop reviewed the previous year’s accomplishments, identifying challenges, the lessons learned and good practices, thus, formulating a data-driven framework for FY 2026. Discussions covered the proposed agricultural interventions for recipient communities, financial projections, and capacity-building activities aimed at improving farmers’ associations (FAs) and cooperatives in the region.
DA-SAAD CAR Planning Officer Judie Rose L. Bisoy emphasized the importance of proactive planning to ensure the success of agricultural projects.
“Our goal is to maximize the impact of SAAD interventions by carefully mapping out our priorities, securing efficient budget allocation, and fostering strong collaboration with local government units and farmer-beneficiaries,” said Bisoy.
Among the highlights of the workshop were the presentations of the draft Work and Financial Plan (WFP) from each province, providing insights into targeted support for priority commodities and enterprise development. Inputs from the DA-RFO CAR TWG were also gathered to refine the operational strategies, making sure that projects remain responsive to the needs of marginalized farming communities.
The event also served as a platform for integrating good practices from previous years and addressing logistical and administrative challenges in project execution.
Moreover, key topics such as entrepreneurial mindset and financial literacy were discussed to further equip the participants with valuable insights for sustainable project implementation.
Outputs of the FY 2026 Regional Planning and Budgeting Workshop will be consolidated and submitted to the National Program Management Office for review and approval, setting the direction for DA-SAAD CAR’s initiatives for the next year.
