The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform conducted a Technical Budget Forum for FY 2025, spearheaded by Minister Mohammad S. Yacob, Ph.D., at Pagana Kutawato Native Restaurant, Cotabato City on March 12-16, 2024.
The activity, marked as a crucial event for the ministry’s services, facilitated strategic planning, promoted transparency, and ensured efficient resource allocation.
At least 90 key figures from different offices of MAFAR from the regional and provincial, were engaged in the forum, ensuring that resources were allocated efficiently to achieve organizational objectives.
Minister Yacob, Ph.D., emphasized in his message, reminding all MAFAR employees of the policy direction of MAFAR, one of which is to use the Bangsamoro fund effectively and efficiently.
He stated that the ultimate objective of the ministry is to increase the productivity of the lives of farmers, fisherfolk, and agrarian reform beneficiaries while decreasing poverty incidence in the Bangsamoro region.
“Our agenda for this forum is for the technical review of our budget for 2025. We are here to improve what we want to implement in 2025 to uplift the lives of our farmers, fisherfolk, and agrarian reform beneficiaries,” he added.
He also hoped that all proposed projects, activities, and projects (PAPs) for agriculture, fisheries, and agrarian reform services were validated and the stakeholders were well-informed. Secondly, they should be practically implemented to achieve sustainability of the ministry’s services.
The Technical Budget Forum included presentations of various services, encompassing proposed provincial PAPs for agriculture, fisheries, and agrarian reform services, as well as sectors under the Office of the Minister, such as AFMS, RDE, Legal Services, Engineering Division, PPMED, and ICTS.
During the presentation, Minister Yacob headed the regional panelist alongside DG Daud K. Lagasi, Ph.D. for Agriculture, DG Pendatun S. Patarasa, MPA, for Fisheries, and DG Taugan S. Kikay, Ph.D., for Agrarian Reform Services, allowing to discuss the prioritize initiatives that are most impactful and align with the ministry’s goal and strategic direction.
Together with other key officials from the regional office were MAFAR Chief of Staff Arphia T. Ebus, JD, Sh.C., Director II Julie O. Maliga, RN for AFMS, and Chief Amador O. Tandalong of PPMED.
This collaborative discussion in the budgeting process ensures that budget allocations are justified and in line with the needs of the ministry and its constituents.
In addition, among the provincial key figures was the Provincial Director of MAFAR Provincial Offices, including Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, and Sulu. They played a vital role in presenting proposed provincial PAPs for each service, ensuring the priorities of their respective provinces were adequately addressed in the budgeting process.
