Barangay Officials from Butuan City and Agusan del Norte avail reading materials from the ATI during the Information Caravan 'Agri-Barangayan' on June 18, 2019.
BUTUAN CITY - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is mandated to promote agricultural development through the provision of support services to improve productivity and income of the farmers and other stakeholders. Though many have availed of these services, there are still some who have not benefited from DA’s interventions.
To bridge these gaps, the DA-Regional Field Office 13 through the Information Section conducted “Agri-Barangayan,” an Information Awareness Caravan to over 300 Barangay Officials in Butuan City and Agusan del Norte last June 18, 2019 at Grand Palace Hotel, this City. Field Operations Division Chief Rebecca R. Atega said that the activity was designed to let the people especially in the barangay level know more of DA and how to avail of its programs and services.
“Being at the forefront, we need to be empowered with knowledge and information for us to be guided in crafting agricultural plans and programs in the grassroots level,” said Emmylou T. Presilda, Information Section Chief of DA-RFO 13.
In support to this endeavor, the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 13 through the Information Services Section joined in the event by providing information services via one-on-one consultation and distribution of various information materials. Agriculturist II Engr. Matt Andrew Baquiano presented the frontline services offered by ATI which include training, technology-demonstration, IEC and farm and business advisory.
Josefa M. Gidacan, DA-Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division Chief presented the regional profile, commodity situationer as well as the challenges faced by the agriculture sector. She then enumerated the programs, projects and other interventions offered by the DA and the corresponding documentary requirements that must be complied in order to avail such interventions.
Meanwhile, Agriculturist II Clarence Malbasias of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, discussed the credit services that are available for the farmers.
In his message, Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo encouraged the full cooperation of local officials at the barangay level so that the DA can ably respond to the needs of various stakeholders.
Representatives from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) also took part in the caravan.