Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat!
It is always a great privilege to join all of you here in charting new directions for the agriculture and fisheries sector through the National Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Program or NAFMP.
Since the enactment of the Republic Act 10601, otherwise known as the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Law or the AFMech Law, up to this day, we continuously ensure that the stakeholders and industry players are engaged in the process involved toward the implementation of the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Law.
This consultation marks another step toward the realization of our goal to greatly improve the efficiency in the country’s agriculture and fisheries sector.
With your inputs from the previous consultations, we hope to validate, update and finalize the National Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Program (NAFMechP) which will serve as the overall agri-fishery sector mechanization program to guide in the planning, programming, budgeting, and monitoring of the Department of Agriculture.
It is an honor for us at PCAF to be able to work closely with concerned DA bureaus and attached agencies and other concerned government agencies and concerned private sector stakeholders in putting into effect the AFMech Law on the formulation of the NAFMP with the following components: Local Assembling and Manufacture of Agri-Fishery Machinery; Research, Development and Extension; Standards and Regulations; Support Services and Institutional Development; and Human Resource Development.
In these modern days, the changing face of agriculture and fisheries seriously calls for the enhancement of mechanization as it is one of the key factors where the future of the agri-fishery sector lies.
Without the unwavering efforts and collaboration of both the government and private sector, we cannot improve the mechanization in our country.
Thanks to the AFMech Law, we are able to persistently give rise to innovative farming technologies, reduce postharvest losses and accelerate product value-adding.
With this, we are confident that we will be able to raise the level of our mechanization and allow the country to draw near with its Southeast Asian neighbors soon.
Therefore, allow me to thank you for giving way to this goal through your participation in this consultation. May our collective aspiration for the steady growth of the agriculture and fisheries sector continue to inspire us to take part in the development and decision-making processes at the local and national levels.
Maraming salamat po!
Date: November 16, 2016
Venue: Clark, Pampanga
