The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 8 held a two-day Midyear Review & Evaluation on the Implementation of the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Livestock Program (GMA-LP) for Eastern Visayas last July 18-19, 2002 at the Ritz Tower de Leyte and the DA RFU 8.

A total of nine Provincial and City Veterinary Offices presented their midyear accomplishments for review and evaluation, together with seven livestock facilities and four operating units. They presented the major final outputs (physical accomplishments) and corresponding financial expenditures of all the components and divisions operating and funded by the agency's GMA-LP.

In his Message, Regional Technical Director Cirilo Balagapo, Jr. stressed that this activity is a very important management tool so as to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each component, and present the notable performances done by the sector. He cited their involvement in the two-day activity, because, he said, this is the only way by which they will know how they have fared in their respective unit's accomplishments at the same time gauged how others have performed as well.

Balagapo also said that the issues and concerns they have identified must be given attention by the concerned livestock officials. This way, these will be addressed, and improve their performance. He said: "Let us remember that our region's food security depends on our honest-to-goodness carrying out of our individual duties and obligations, as it ties up with our agency's mandate and vision. The people depend on us, on what we are able to accomplish, as against the plans and directions we have set. So let this be a concerted effort for all of us, today and in the future."

This midyear review and evaluation came after the region has been internationally declared as one of the Visayas area free of the economically-dreaded Foot-and-Mouth disease FMD. Hence, it becomes more imperative to work more closely with each other and coordinate all efforts together.