UNIFIED GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RE-ENTRY ASSISTANCE FOR THE GRADUATES OF THE YOUNG FILIPINO FARMERS TRAINING PROGRAM IN JAPAN (YFFTPJ)
the graduates of the Young Filipino Farmers Training Program in Japan
(YFFTPJ), a unified set of guidelines is hereby issued for strict
implementation in your respective areas.
This supersedes all previously issued guidelines pertaining to the implementation of the said program.
For strict compliance.
Adopted: 19 June 2009
(SGD.) JESUS EMMANUEL M. PARAS
Officer-in-Charge
Department of Agriculture
Attachment:
Unified Guidelines for the Implementation of the Re-Entry Assistance for YFFTPJ Graduates
I. Description
The Re-entry Assistance is a support fund extended by the National
Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC) to the graduates of the Young
Filipino Farmers Training Program in Japan (YFFTPJ). It allows the
graduate to apply the technical skills and modern agricultural
technology acquired from training in Japan and in turn maximize his
contribution to agricultural development of the country.The assistance is designed to support micro to small-scale
agriculture-based projects of YFFTPJ graduates such as: farm production,
livestock raising and value-adding activities, or expand his existing
project to improve his income. The project shall serve as a technology
showcase within and outside his farming community. It also prepares the
alumnus as agricultural entrepreneur who will eventually serve as host
farmer to other young farmers who will have the same opportunity to
undergo training in Japan. Proponents are required to put up equity in
the form or a combination of land, cash, insurance, labor, utilities and
indigenous materials available in their respective areas.Qualified proponent shall be provided with an
interest-and-collateral free support fund based on project cost but not
to exceed the amount of sixty two thousand five hundred pesos
(PhP62,500.00). This shall be replenished in accordance with the
approved schedule to ensure that other deserving graduates could also
avail of the same assistance.II. Beneficiaries and Documentary Requirements
A) Graduate of the YFFTPJ under Japan Agricultural Exchange Council (JAEC) sponsorship Photocopy of the certificate of training issued by the JAEC duly certified by the Regional FYDP Coordinator (RFYDPC) B) Presently involved in farming or agri-related activities and can implement/manage the Project continuously by himself Barangay or Municipal/City Agricultural and Fishery Council (MAFC/CAFC) Certification (Form No. 1) C) Has not yet availed of funds from any of the following
programs: Livelihood Enhancement for Agricultural Development (LEAD),
LEAD Roll-Over Fund, Farm Youth Development Program (FYDP), Support to
Young Filipino Farmers (SYFF) and Young Farmers Program (YFP)Certification from the Regional FYDP Coordinator noted by Regional Executive Director (RED)Regional Secretary (Form No. 2) III. Project Proposal Preparation, Evaluation and Approval
A) The YFFTPJ graduate shall prepare a project proposal and
replenishment schedule following the recommended outline described in
Annex A[*] and must comply with the required documents.B) The proposal together with the required documents must be
submitted to the MAFC/CAFC. The MAFC/CAFC shall evaluate the proposal
and if the proposal meets all the requirements, the MAFC/CAFC shall
endorse the proposal to the Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC).C) The PAFC, Provincial FYDP Coordinator (PYFDPC) and
PAFC/Provincial LEAD Coordinator shall validate the submitted proposal.
If the proposal meets the requirements and is feasible, the PAFC and
Provincial Agriculturist (PA) shall endorse the proposal to the
Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) using the PAFC and OPA
pre-evaluation and endorsement form (Form No. 3).D) The RAFC, Regional Lead and FYDP Coordinators shall validate the
results of the evaluation of the proposal and other documents. If
found favorable and all documents are complete, the RAFC approves and
recommends the project for funding to the DA-RFU/DAF-ARMM.E) The RAFC shall inform the proponent through the PAFC of the
approval of the project and a Project Finance Agreement (PFA) between
the DA-RFU/DAF-ARMM and the YFFTPJ graduate shall be executed (see Annex
B[*]).IV. Fund Release, Utilization and Liquidation
A) To effect the release of funds by the DA-RFU/DAF-ARMM to the YFFTPJ graduate, the following documents are required:
1. Approved and Endorsed Project Proposal by the MAFC/CAFC/PAFC/RAFC with the duly signed Replenishment Schedule;
2. Notarized PFA between DA-RFU/DAF-ARMM and the YFFTPJ graduate; and
3. Joint bank account in a preferred bank between the YFFTPJ
graduate and the Provincial/Municipal/City FYDP Coordinator whoever
holds office nearer to the YFFTPJ graduate.B) The DA-RFU/DAF-ARMM shall inform in writing the YFFTPJ graduate
through the RAFC on the availability of checks, copy furnished NAFC and
PAFC.C) The YFFTPJ graduate shall receive the check and issue
acknowledgment receipt to the DA-RFU/DAF-ARMM. He shall be provided with
photocopies of all the signed documents for guidance in the project
implementation. He shall likewise deposit the check to the said joint
bank account with the Provincial/Municipal/City FYDP Coordinator.D) The YFFTPJ graduate shall implement the project within three (3)
months from the receipt of support fund, otherwise, the project shall
be considered unimplemented. In this case, the appropriate remedial
measure shall apply.E) The utilization of the funds shall be in accordance with the
detailed project schedule and its budgetary requirement. All
disbursements shall be documented by the YFFTPJ graduate and shall be
submitted to the Provincial FYDP Coordinator. Succeeding withdrawals
shall be allowed upon submission of previous disbursements accompanied
by acknowledgment/official receipts to the PFYDPC.F) Unspent funds for completed projects may be utilized for other related activities or as replenishment.
G) The DA-RFU/DAF-ARMM shall submit to NAFC a duly audited liquidation report by the COA Resident Auditor.
V. Replenishment of Funds
A) The YFFTPJ graduate shall follow the replenishment schedule
which is based on the projected cash flow. The replenishment period
shall cover a maximum of three (3) years of project implementation from
the release of the support fund.B) The PFYDPC shall remind the YFFTPJ graduate in writing of the
due date at least one month before the scheduled date of replenishment.C) A bank account under the name “REA-YFFTPJ Roll-Over Fund” shall
be opened by the RAFC where all the replenishments from the YFFTPJ
graduates shall be deposited. The bank book shall be placed under the
custody of the RAFC. The signatories for the said account shall be the
RAFC Chairperson and the RFYDPC.D) The PFYDPC shall receive all the replenishments, issue
acknowledgment receipts and remit the amounts to the PAFC Treasurer
within three (3) working days upon receipt.E) The PAFC Treasurer shall, in turn, issue corresponding Official
Receipt and deposit to “REA-YFFTPJ Roll-Over Fund” all replenishment
funds within three (3) working days upon receipt.F) The 95% of replenishment fund shall be earmarked for the
projects of the next-in-line YFFTPJ graduates. These guidelines shall
also be applied to the Roll-Over Fund. The remaining 5% of the total
fund shall be utilized for the administrative and operational expenses
at the provincial level (i.e. monitoring of project status, collection
of the replenishment from the YFFTPJ graduate, cost of opening the
“REA-YFFTPJ Roll-Over Fund” Account). A RAFC resolution authorizing the
disbursements of the total replenishment funds shall be required.G) The RFYDPC shall strictly record all collections and
disbursements made based on the prescribed format shown in Form No. 4
(Quarterly Status of REA-YFFTPJ Roll-Over Fund) which shall be submitted
to NAFC. The RFYDPC shall also report the status of the account during
regular RAFC meetings.H) NAFC’s authorized representative shall have the right to examine the book of accounts.
VI. Project Implementation
A) The YFFTPJ graduate shall:
1. Implement his project in accordance with the approved project proposal;
2. Properly identify and label the project in the site/location following the attached prescribed format (Annex C[*]);
3. Record all transactions related to project implementation and
make all available project records and documents to authorized NAFC and
AFC officials, FYDP Coordinators who will conduct regular/periodic
evaluation; and
4. Prepare a semi-annual project status report (Form No. 5) to
RAFC; copy furnished NAFC, PAFC and Provincial
Agriculturist/Veterinarian Office.B) The YFFTPJ graduate may also seek technical assistance from the
DA-RFU/DAF-ARMM and the Office of the Provincial
Agriculturist/Veterinarian (PA/PV).VII. Monitoring and Evaluation
A) The Regional/Provincial/Municipal/City FYDP Coordinators as well as the local AFCs shall monitor the project implementation.
B) The RFYDPC shall prepare the regional semi-annual monitoring and
evaluation report (Form No. 6) in coordination with the RAFC. The
RFYDPC shall submit the consolidated report to NAFC-LSCD every 30th day
of the start of the semester (January and July).C) During and upon project completion, the RAFC and RFYDPC shall
evaluate and recommend actions to be taken for further improvement of
project execution.VIII.Remedial Measures, Termination and Sanctions
Project funded under the Re-Entry Assistance that encounters
implementation problems may be terminated or accorded with the remedial
measures. The provision on the LEAD Unified Program Guidelines
pertaining to the remedial measures, termination of projects, and
sanctions shall be used and applied to the delinquent proponent under
this project.However, in case of non-replenishment or deliberate refusal to
replenish the support fund on time, the graduate shall be deprived of
any benefits under the YFFTPJ Program and shall be barred from any
assistance from NAFC. If warranted, appropriate legal actions or legal
remedies available under existing laws and regulations may be resorted
to.For terminated projects, the DA-RFU and RAFC shall determine the
appraised value and recover all assets. All recovered assets, except
those acquired using the equity, shall be sold by the RAFC. The proceeds
from the sale shall be deposited to the “REA-YFFTPJ Roll-Over Fund” and
shall be treated as additional project fund.IX. Other Provisions
Provisions stated in the Memorandum of Agreement between NAFC and
DA-RFU/DAF-ARMM and the Project Finance Agreement shall form part of
these guidelines.
[*] Text Available at Office of the National Administrative Register, U.P. Law Complex, Diliman, Quezon City.