National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP) conducted its 1st Quarter Financial and Physical Assessment held at Filipiniana Hotel in Calapan City on April 22-26, 2019.
The 5-day event was hosted by the Department of Agriculture-MIMAROPA Organic Agriculture Program.
The activity aimed to discuss the current performance of the Operating Units to formulate solutions for resolving issues and concerns in the implementation of its policies and programs and to solicit suggestions for the improvement of the program’s operations.
“This is a platform for improvements and recommendations,” said Engr. Christopher Morales, the National Program Coordinator of NOAP during his opening message.
Afterward, Engr. Morales discussed the workshop and presentation Mechanics to the 100 attendees composed of regional focal persons, coordinators, implementing agencies, as well as representatives from the Field Programs Coordination and Monitoring Division, Field Programs Planning Division, and National Organic Agriculture Board and Secretariat.
All regional focal person and representatives were able to discuss and present their financial and physical accomplishment as well as the success stories of the farm-owners who have been practicing organic agriculture. The said presentation lasted for three days from April 22-24.
After all the regions presented, the next day was allotted for the implementing agencies---Agricultural Training Institute, Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Plant Industry, and Bureau of Agricultural Research’s presentations.
Furthermore, the National Organic Agriculture Achievers Awards were also highlighted in the said event through the National Program’s Information Unit.
They presented the new Online System Manual for submission of scrapbooks of the nominees.
“We turned to submit digital copies of scrapbooks for easy access and archiving of files and also to lessen the paper consumption,” explained by Charmaine Sabandona, the Project Development Officer of NOAP.
The digital copies of the scrap are due on May 17, 2019, through sending of flash drives or an email to their official email address and portal.
Meanwhile, the most awaited National Organic Agriculture Congress date and the venue were announced in the event which will be hosted by the CALABARZON Region at Camp Benjamin, Alfonso, Cavite on November 11-15, 2019. This year’s theme will be OA4K: Organikong Agrikultura sa Kumikitang Kabuhayan para sa Kalusugan at Kapaligiran.
Self-Assessment Tool for City/Municipality and Validation Tool for Regional Offices were also conferred on the 4th day of the event.
As the event draw to its last day on April 26, Ronald John Lamano, NOAP Senior Science Research Specialist, opened the table for the discussion of the following topics: Guidelines on the Identification and Management of Strategic Areas for Organic Agriculture; Code and Guide for Local Government Units in Developing and Implementing the National Organic Agriculture Program; Revised Guidelines for the Establishment, Operation and Monitoring of Organic Trading Posts; and the Revised Rules and Procedures and Implementation of Organic Agriculture Project Proposals.
The event concluded with a presentation of agreements for the discussed issues and concerns.
