The Development Academy of the Philippines and the Department of Agriculture – National Food Authority (NFA) have forged a strategic partnership to strengthen leadership capabilities, improve operational performance, and build a future-ready workforce in support of national food security.
The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on September 25, 2026, at the NFA Central Office in Quezon City, on the sidelines of the NFA’s 54th anniversary celebration themed “Powering Food Security Through Innovation.” The anniversary theme underscores the agency’s continuing efforts to strengthen its operations through innovation, modernization, and improved systems for food security.
Under the agreement, DAP, through its Productivity Development Center (PDC), will implement the initial year of the Modified Learning Advancement and Development for Delivering Excellent Results (LADDER) for NFA program, a structured capability development initiative designed to strengthen the leadership, technical, and managerial competencies of NFA executives, middle managers, and technical experts.
The five-year LADDER for NFA program is designed to provide a progressive learning pathway for NFA personnel, with micro-credentials that may lead toward graduate-level qualifications while strengthening the application of data-informed approaches and digital governance in the agency.
The partnership comes at a critical time as the NFA addresses leadership gaps arising from recent institutional restructuring and personnel retirements. The LADDER program aims to build a cadre of agile, competent, and innovation-driven leaders who can maintain operational continuity and modernize grain management.
For its initial 2026 rollout, the modified program focuses on conducting a Rapid Training Needs Assessment and delivering targeted leadership training to 50 selected NFA personnel from central, regional, and branch offices. Participants will also develop actionable process-improvement proposals addressing operational challenges in staple grain procurement, quality maintenance, and distribution.
The DAP-NFA partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing public-sector capabilities that translate into stronger institutional performance and more responsive government services. By investing in people and organizational systems, the initiative seeks to contribute to the NFA’s continuing efforts to modernize its operations and strengthen its contribution to national food security.
