The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program in Eastern Visayas held its annual staff orientation, with focus on reinforcing organizational values, promoting effective teamwork, and ensuring that project strategies are aligned with objectives for the current fiscal year.
The activity, conducted last January 30, 2025, brought together program implementers from six provinces in the region, including provincial and area coordinators, agricultural program coordinating officers (APCOs), and regional support staff. It served as a platform to revisit the program’s mission and vision, ensuring that all personnel remain anchored to SAAD’s core mandate of empowering marginalized farmers.
DA Regional Field Office 8 Operations Division OIC-Chief Lor Fatima A. Bucatcat underscored the importance of consistency in service delivery. She stressed that reorientation activities go beyond formality, playing a vital role in reinforcing accountability, transparency, and efficiency in the implementation of livelihood projects.
“There is no perfect workplace. But, with teamwork and by being responsible with what is assigned to us, we can achieve more. Let us always aim to provide the best service for our farmers,” said Bucatcat.
During the sessions, participants reviewed the physical and financial targets for the year, assessed the status of procurement and deliveries, and finalized the calendar of activities.
A forum was also conducted to address field-level challenges, where staff were encouraged to exchange best practices and introduce innovative approaches to community engagement.
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of work plans and strategic directions for the year. The reorientation further covered internal concerns, including workplace ethics, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and opportunities for professional growth.
In her message, OIC–Regional Technical Director for Operations Jenny Lyn Almeria expressed appreciation for the staff’s steadfast commitment. She reminded the SAAD implementers that their role extends beyond project implementation, as they also serve as advocates for sustainable agriculture and farmer empowerment.
“Our annual reorientation is a reminder that we are one team, united by a common purpose – to uplift the lives of our marginalized farmers. By strengthening our values and skills, we ensure that our beneficiaries receive the best support possible,” Dir. Almeria stressed in her closing message.
With renewed focus and strengthened camaraderie, the SAAD Eastern Visayas team reaffirms its commitment to another year of meaningful service to farming communities across the region. ###
