Tuesday, June 2, 2015

PCAF launches area-wide facilitation skills trainings for AFC coordinators

In its pursuit to enhance the competencies of the secretariat and the overall operations of the Agricultural and Fishery Councils (AFCs), the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) held a series of area-wide Facilitation Skills Training for AFC Coordinators starting this March.

The first batch that received training last March 16-18 in Pampanga was composed of 24 AFC Coordinators from the regional and provincial levels and staff from some RAFC Offices from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B and the Cordilleras.

It is also seen to help strengthen the capacity of AFC coordinators as technical support in generating sound policy recommendations and in mobilizing the AFCs to be advocates of agri-fishery programs. In her opening speech, PCAF Deputy Executive Director Florabelle Uy-Yap hoped that the training will translate into more relevant policy recommendations from the AFCs that will make a difference in the lives of farmers and fisherfolk.

“I know that your participation in this training is not really for personal reasons. I know that you are not training for yourselves and that your intention comes from an altruistic objective which is to better serve our stakeholders,” she said.

The course included sessions on Perception and Personalities, Being a Person of Influence, Stages of Team Development, Key Competencies of a Team, Skills of a Good Facilitator, Enhancing Communication Skills, and Preparing, Planning and Designing a Meeting.

Having seen some of the participants’ workshop outputs which include sample minutes of the meeting, PCAF Executive Director Ariel Cayanan congratulated the participants and urged them to strengthen their partnerships with their Chairpersons in achieving their common goals.

In her opening speech, PCAF Deputy Executive Director Florabelle Uy-Yap hoped that the training will translate into more relevant policy recommendations from the AFCs that will make a difference in the lives of farmers and fisherfolk.

“I know that your participation in this training is not really for personal reasons. I know that you are not training for yourselves and that your intention comes from an altruistic objective which is to better serve our stakeholders,” she said.

The course included sessions on Perception and Personalities, Being a Person of Influence, Stages of Team Development, Key Competencies of a Team, Skills of a Good Facilitator, Enhancing Communication Skills, and Preparing, Planning and Designing a Meeting.

Having seen some of the participants’ workshop outputs which include sample minutes of the meeting, PCAF Executive Director Ariel Cayanan congratulated the participants and urged them to strengthen their partnerships with their Chairpersons in achieving their common goals.

" This has been a very good takeoff point for a successful journey. You are on the right track, so do not lose on that focus no matter what. This is only the beginning, the next step is to impart your learning and, ultimately, our goal is to produce results for our stakeholders,” he said.

“Ilocos Norte PAFC Coordinator Dante Madalipay thanked the PCAF and LeadCore for providing them a venue to enhance their competencies.

"This has given us the opportunity to empower our PAFC Chairpersons as well as the MAFC Chairpersons to become more active. I look forward to being able to impart to them what I have learned here,” he said.

RAFC Coordinator William Valdez of the host region, Region 3, also looked forward to applying the knowledge he gained from the training and sharing this knowledge with the members of their council.


He also underscored the role and responsibility of coordinators as facilitators in ensuring that the government’s objectives for the agriculture and fishery sector are met. He also called on his fellow coordinators to explore avenues that could help in giving incentives to the AFCs especially those recognized in the Gawad Saka Search.

The training for the second and third batches were held in Lipa City, Batangas and Iloilo City, Iloilo in the weeks that followed for participants from Luzon B (Regions 4A, 4B, and 5) and Visayas (Region 6, 7 and 8, including Caraga), respectively. The last leg of the training will be held in Davao City in April for participants from Mindanao (Regions 9, 10, 11, and ARMM).

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