April 27, 2021. The Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) conducted a series of virtual consultations that intend to gather comments for the draft Department Order (DO) to institutionalize the Bureau at the DA Regional Field Offices (RFOs). The virtual consultations were held last April 20-22, 2021 via Google Meet and were participated by 32 personnel from DA RFOs nationwide. Attendees include the Regional Technical Directors (RTDs) for Research and Regulation, Chiefs of the following Divisions: Regulatory, Agribusiness, and Marketing Assistance Service, Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Service, Regional Agricultural Engineering, Research, Integrated Laboratory, and other technical personnel.
The draft DO intends to strengthen the partnership of BAFS with DA RFOs and further intensify the delivery of the Bureau’s services at the regional level by establishing a formal structure to the BAFS Regional Focal Groups for ease of doing business. The draft DO contains the proposed organizational structure and funding arrangements between BAFS and DA RFOs. The DO also emphasizes the terms of references of the BAFS Regional Focal Groups that are categorized into three: (1) Standards Development and Research, (2) Standards Promotion and Adoption, and (3) Organic Agriculture Regulations.
The DA RFOs signified their full support for the initiative. They acknowledged the significance of collaboration and the role of the Bureau in ensuring consumer safety and promoting the competitiveness of agriculture and fisheries sectors through the use of national standards.
Upon revision, the document will be recirculated to the DA RFOs for final review before its submission to the Office of the Secretary for approval. ###
Regional Consultation on the Draft Department Order for the Institutionalization of BAFS at the DA Regional Field Offices (RFOs) held last April 20, 2021 via GoogleMeet (Luzon)
Regional Consultation on the Draft Department Order for the Institutionalization of BAFS at the DA Regional Field Offices (RFOs) held last April 20, 2021 via GoogleMeet (Visayas)
Regional Consultation on the Draft Department Order for the Institutionalization of BAFS at the DA Regional Field Offices (RFOs) held last April 20, 2021 via GoogleMeet (Mindanao)