The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (DA-PCAF) marked its 10th year founding anniversary on June 26, 2023.

With the theme, “PCAF InTENsified: A decade of heightening participatory processes, strengthening partnerships, and extending institutional support,” the celebration highlights the agency’s accomplishments in the past 10 years.

“In behalf of the management of the Department of Agriculture, I would like to congratulate DA-PCAF for continuing to provide responsive service to its stakeholders, from holding national and local consultations, to crafting effective policy resolutions and conducting participatory monitoring of DA projects,” Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations Mercedita A. Sombilla said.

In her message, she commended the DA-PCAF for being the participatory hub of the Department by providing mechanisms for agri-fishery stakeholders to participate in policymaking, planning, and budgeting that formulate tracking and partnerships development in the agriculture and fishery sectors, from the national down to municipal level.

“The DA is indeed blessed to have DA-PCAF’s reliable and hardworking personnel and staff, collaborating with its network to stakeholders who are willing and ready to lend their time, knowledge and expertise to the government as our volunteer partners,” Sombilla said.

Aside from Sombilla, other DA officials including Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs Kristine Y. Evangelista, and Assistant Secretary for DA Inspectorate and Enforcement James A. Layug joined DA-PCAF Executive Director Nestor D. Domenden in the opening ceremonies kicked-off by the launch of the photo exhibit.

As part of the celebration, DA-PCAF will be holding its first “Gawad Parangal” in recognition of its employees’ exemplary contribution to agricultural growth and development. ### (photo by Gian Carlo Luague, DA-AFID)