LAGAWE, Ifugao -- The Ifugao Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council (PAFC) won the 2017 Search for the Most Outstanding PAFC Award in the Cordillera Administrative Region in the Group or Institutional Category.
Cecil Guiniling of the Provincial Agriculture Environment and Natural Office and PAFC focal person, said Ifugao bested Mountain Province in the competition.
With the award, Ifugao earned the privilege to represent the Cordillera Region in the national level search.
Ifugao will be vying for the national award with provinces of Zambales and Misamis Oriental.
A team from the National Committee already started the evaluation and assessment of the three provincial contenders for the National PAFC title which will be completed and announced before the end of this year.
Guiniling shared the PAFC of Ifugao was organized in 1987 under the Bureau of Agricultural Extension and directly funded by the National Agriculture and Fishery Council. However, it was institutionalized only in 2006 under Provincial Ordinance No. 2006-030 and providing funds thereof.
In recognition of its contributions and strong involvement as a private sector partner in the agricultural and fishery development of the province, it became a member of the Provincial Development Council.
In nominating the Ifugao PAFC to the CAR Gawad Saka Search, Elsie Atolba, chairperson of the Rural Improvement Club Women Sector of Baguinge, Kiangan, described the Council to “have a sincere heart and untiring commitment to serve as a volunteer private partner possessing a strong bond of unity and dedication in the performance of their roles and function towards the fulfillment of their vision and mission for the general welfare of its members as personally witnessed and experienced by the organization.”
She added the PAFC’s active involvement and participation as voluntary functional partners in the implementation of its programs and mandate had paved the way for them to be more recognized not only as an RIC but also by other organizations.
The PAFC supported their organization in terms of endorsing their proposal for the Village Level Processing and Enhancement Project funded by the Department of Agrarian Reform that resulted to the improvement of the organization’s Taro Processing Project which is now marketed outside the province.
As strong advocate of participatory good governance and effective agent as the monitoring arm of the Agriculture Sector, the PAFC also endorsed the Lead program which support cluster projects. (PIA)