𝗗𝗔, 𝗞𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗩

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) convened to draft the Record of Discussion (RoD) to form the obligations of both parties as key players for the establishment of the Smart Agriculture System project in Western Visayas.

The Korean Implementation Survey Team and the DA’s Technical Working Group and Project Management Unit gathered to prepare the terms of reference and other undertakings of the DA and KOICA in carrying out the project in the region, on August 10-11 in Kalibo, Aklan.

KOICA Philippines Program Manager Eugene Baclig said that one of the implementation survey team’s critical outputs from the completed site visits was the drafting and crafting of the RoD.

“The RoD will serve as the legal document to implement this project. It will also underscore the respective undertakings of the Korean government and the Philippine government in so far as project implementation is concerned,” Baclig added.

The result of this dialogue will finalize the respective parties’ responsibilities through the Terms of Reference, subject to the approval of both countries.

Meanwhile, KOICA Philippine Office Assistant Country Director Lee Takgun expressed his gratitude to the DA Central Office and DA-WV for their cooperation in the conduct of field surveys.

“Without your cooperation, we could not conduct anything, so thank you for your cooperation. We have finished the site visit schedule and our Implementation Survey Team has come up with baseline information. As you know, the RoD will serve as the legal basis for the project partnership between the Republic of Korea and the Philippines,” explained ACD Lee.

ACD Lee added that through the discussions, he expected both parties to agree on the contents of the project framework.

He also revealed that the Korean government would provide US$ 8 million or equivalent to P432 million (current exchange rate) for the project. This includes the establishment of model farms, provision of necessary equipment for the enhanced value chain of high value crops, and other components stipulated in the commitments.

According to the results of the site surveys, KOICA will establish model farms in Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Antique, and Aklan.

During the activity, KOICA Smart Agriculture Outcome Effectiveness Expert Kim Jungho presented the draft RoD focused on the different components of the project and commitments for discussion and agreement of DA and KOICA as the implementing agencies.

DA Central Office representatives Maria Flor Aquino and Rechel Macalalad gave valuable inputs for the refinement of provisions of the RoD.

DA-WV Regional Executive Director Remelyn Recoter attended on a virtual platform and led the regional office in evaluating and giving attributes for the terms of reference, especially on the part of the DA-WV as the project proponent.

OIC-Regional Technical Director Jose Albert Barrogo; FPOMD Chief Dominador Marquez; AMAD Chief Maria Teresa Solis; AMAD Sr. Agriculturist Clark Melendres; PMED Chief Josephine Berte; HVCDP Focal Person Jonifer Frades; Sr. Science Research Specialist Felicitas Neturada; Executive Assistant Victorico Nabor, and RAED Engineers Winelyn Laging and Jeffrey Española assisted Director Recoter in the interposition of the RoD to finalize its commitments. # # (By MSSubang/DA-RAFIS 6)