The Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 (Central Visayas) has signed a memorandum of agreement with the provincial government of Negros Oriental, seeking to make the province a pilot area in the region for the implementation of the Provincial-led Agriculture and Fishery Extension System (PAFES).

In a statement released on Saturday, the DA-7 said the accord was signed by officials of the agriculture department and the provincial government, led by Governor Roel Degamo.

According to PAFES focal person Dr. Mayolyn Majaducon, Negros Oriental was chosen as the pilot or model province based on such criteria as the acceptance and perception of leaders on agricultural development, poverty incidence, presence and capability of state universities and colleges of the province, and presence and response of agricultural technicians.

Majaducon said PAFES is one of the key strategies of the ONE-DA Approach espoused by Agriculture Secretary William Dar to “optimize agricultural modernization and mainstreaming the implementation of agricultural programs in the provinces.”

It aims to bring agricultural extension services to the grassroots level.

Among the activities positioned to jumpstart its implementation is the conduct of rapid appraisal of the province’s extension services by academe partner Negros Oriental State University, she said.

The PAFES is an initiative of the DA in preparation for the full implementation of the Mandanas Ruling to fully capacitate local government units (LGUs) in the delivery of agricultural programs and services to its constituents, among others.

The Supreme Court has affirmed the Mandanas Ruling, declaring that LGUs are entitled to their Internal Revenue Allotments based on all national taxes and not just from national internal revenue taxes. (PNA)