DA holds forum to promote PPP projects in agri-fisheries sector

The Department of Agriculture-Project Development Service (DA-PDS) conducted the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Forum in the Agriculture and Fisheries Sector on November 24, 2023 to discuss PPP projects that will help boost the country’s agricultural production.

“PPP talaga is the way we need to go. Talagang importante ang mga PPP Forums like this because I think this is the way to go to help the government,” DA Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations Mercedita Sombilla said.

She added that the private sector may not be enticed in agriculture because of its vulnerabilities especially with climate change, but she challenged the forum participants to think of out of the box strategies and projects that are beneficial for both parties.

“I hope that as we continue to have fora like this in the future, we can develop more and more PPP projects that would really push the agricultural sector further than what we really target. We have a PPP Unit in the DA and I hope that all our regional offices will also have a conscious effort to really look for projects that we can implement through PPP,” Undesecretary Sombilla said.

She also stressed the need for more PPP projects to help the government and for the local agriculture and fisheries sector to move towards industrialization.

During the forum, PPP Center Capacity Building and Knowledge Management Service Director Feroisa Francisca Concordia discussed the Philippine PPP Program, concepts, processes, legal frameworks, capacity building frameworks, and updates on the PPP Code of the Philippines.

DA-Investment Programming Division Chief Joseph Manicad, on the other hand, discussed the National Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization and Industrialization Plan (NAFMIP) 2021–2030, identified major challenges and opportunities for growth and other appropriate and relevant strategies for the sector.

Moreover, DA-PDS Project Identification and Evaluation Division Chief Rowel Del Rosario presented PPP opportunities in the sector such as in terms of establishing production and postharvest facilities, agri-fishery industrial business corridors, and agriculture and fisheries laboratories and testing centers, among