Agriculture dep’t forms body to ensure effectiveness of farmers’ law
The Sagip Saka law aims to enable farmers and fishers to boost productivity and to turn them into entrepreneurs. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is forming an interim group to ensure the effective implementation of the Sagip Saka Act.
The law aims to enable farmers and fishers to boost productivity and to turn them into entrepreneurs.
For this purpose, the DA issued Department Order No. 10 last May 15. It establishes an Interim National Sagip Saka Program Management Office within the agency. This is for the focused implementation of the law and its implementing rules and regulations.
Enacted in April 2019, the law called for the creation of the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise-Development Program (FFEDP). The law also outlines a set of objectives and strategies to promote enterprises involving agricultural products.
READ: Sagip Saka to increase incomes
This program provides various assistance. These include improving, enhancing access to financing, providing access to improved technologies and offering business support and development services.
The DA is designated as the implementing agency of the FFEDP. It can tap other government agencies or offices to attain the Sagip Saka Act’s objectives.
Focus on achieving agriculture targets
The interim national office will “ensure focused leadership, strategic coordination, efficient resource allocation, and the successful implementation of the FFEDP and the achievement of its targets,” the order read.
One of its responsibilities is ensuring the sustainable operations of agricultural and fishery enterprises and expanding economic opportunities.
It will initiate the review of relevant issuances regarding the implementation of the law and recommend any amendments or repeal, if necessary.
The group will oversee the law’s implementation as well as develop and manage an efficient monitoring and reporting system to track the progress of supported enterprises.
Further, the interim office will coordinate with various offices within the DA, attached bureaus, attached agencies, regional field offices and other partner government offices and agencies. This is to craft enterprise development initiatives, consolidate their roles and cultivate the entrepreneurship culture among farmers and fishers.
The interim office will be composed of three divisions. The Policy and Advocacy Division is tasked with developing guidelines to support program objectives. The Monitoring and Evaluation Division will create the framework, methodologies and key performance indicators. And the Program Development Division will determine the needs and opportunities for new projects and initiatives.
