The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 8 will continue to work with the different provinces in bringing extension services to the grassroots level under the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems (PAFES) framework.

During the 1st Quarter Coordination Meeting on April 16, the PAFES Regional Technical Working Group, together with the different attached agencies/ line bureaus and provincial agriculture/ veterinary/ fishery offices, presented the status and updates on the implementation of different activities in support to PAFES.

Early part this year, it was reported that three provinces, namely Southern Leyte, Samar and Leyte, successfully conducted the MOA Signing on the renewal of PAFES establishment in their provinces, as well as the launching of its Collaborative Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Extension Program (CPAFEP).

Meanwhile, Biliran Province is scheduled to hold their launching in the month of May, but Northern Samar and Eastern Samar are yet to finalize their schedules.

MRIDP Consultant Leo P. Cañeda, gave an overview of PAFES and its legal foundation, highlighting it as the forward-looking program of the department in response to the implementation of full devolution. A short survey was also presented to assess the knowledge and capabilities of implementers in relation to PAFES.

Aside from PAFES updates, the gathering took the chance to gather inputs from the participants on the current issues and problems among the provinces. Most of the responses from the provincial implementers was how the fuel crisis is affecting the farmers activities and market price of agricultural goods and inputs. Notably, some of the provinces have implemented their own initiatives to aid the farmers difficulty. Moreover, the Field Operations Division, particularly the different banner programs presented their major interventions that would help secure the farmers livelihoods and food sufficiency in the region.

RTD for Operations, Dir. Jenny Lyn R. Almeria, in her closing remarks encouraged the participants to sustain the partnership and reaffirm their commitment to the program being the entry point of LGUs on the support from the national government.

Guided by the principles of co-planning, co-investment, co-implementation, and co-monitoring, the PAFES is a mechanism or strategy of the department to effectively implement the different agricultural programs on a devolved structure. It will strengthen the shared governance between DA and LGUs for collaborative agri-fishery programs, as outlined in Executive Order No. 103, Series of 2025, which extends the devolution transition period.