DA trains LGUs on food security planning

CEBU, Philippines — With the aim to strategically address food security and promote sustainable agriculture and fisheries, 16 local government units (LGUs) from Districts 4 and 5 in Cebu Province underwent a training workshop by the Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas (DA-7).

This three-day workshop taught representatives from participating towns and cities to formulate their own City/Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Development Plan (MAFDP) and Food Security Plan (FSP) which was conducted by the Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division of the department (DA7 PMED).

The agriculturists, agricultural officers, and planning and development officers of their respective cities and towns were among the participants of the workshop.

The towns of Bantayan, Madridejos, Santa Fe, Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Compostela, Liloan, Poro, and Tudela, and the cities of Bogo and Danao participated in the agriculture’s training workshop.

According to DA-7, the crafting of the MAFD plan and FSP plan are crucial in addressing food security and sustainable agriculture and fisheries at the municipal level. They said that through these plans, the detailed information will be gathered on each LGUs specific needs for targeted interventions to promote the sustainable production of agricultural goods and products.

Last April, PMED chief Elvin Milleza encouraged the LGUs of the region to prepare and update their respective MAFD plan. Milleza said the plan should include current production and other related data of various agricultural commodities for consolidation into a provincial plan and regional plan.

“We want to have a comprehensive plan from the respective LGUs. Why? So that in the preparation of our plans and programs, we will not be confounded with regards to the budgeted target for the next calendar year,” said Milleza in a report by DA Regional Field Office 7. — (FREEMAN)