MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) is ramping up its engagement with its private sector partners through the implementation of a value creating strategic shift called Innovative Consultation on Agriculture and Fisheries Reforms and Engagement, also known as iCARE Program.
Through the program, PCAF facilitates broad-based participatory processes in the agriculture and fisheries sector that provide sound policy recommendations, project proposals, and adapt strategic measures to cope with the pandemic and usher innovation to address food security challenges in the Philippines.
PCAF is the result of the consolidation of two agencies – the National Agricultural and Fishery Council and Livestock Development Council.
As an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, PCAF seeks to revitalize the recruitment and engagement of new value chain business-oriented and youth organizations as part of the consultative and policy advisory bodies of DA, through accreditation and evaluation and partnership agreement process to ensure wide reach of industry stakeholders.
It was instrumental in the crafting and lobbying of landmark laws and its implementing rules and regulations, such as the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Law, Coconut Levy, and Rice Tariffication Law.
PCAF, as an agency, embraced its new “service brands” to recalibrate its strategies focused on COVID-19 efforts, but still aligned to its mandate, that is to act as the advisory body of DA to ensure the success of its programs and activities” and “to establish a nationwide network of Agricultural and Fishery Councils to serve as the forum for consultative and continuing discussions within agriculture and fisheries sectors.”