Woman On A Mission

For years, the disconnect between farmers and chefs has been far and wide. Until berna romulo-puyat stepped in and got both parties talking.

- Dianne Sibal

Let’s get this straight. Berna Romulo-Puyat is a public servant, not a politician.

While her impressive background (growing up in a family of respected government officials, childhood spent campaigning for an assemblyman and senator, and years spent in the University of the Philippines as an economist and educator) has groomed her for the esteemed role of an elected official, she has never been tempted to go back to politics after taking a stab at it “back when I was very young,” she recalls fondly.

“They ask me every now and then if I want to run, and I always say no,” she says. “There are many ways to serve your country, of course, and being an elected official is one of them. In fact, you can help anywhere you are—even if you’re in the private sector. I feel I can help more where I am now.”

Where she is now is the Department of Agriculture (DA), where she serves as the chairperson for the Gender and Development (GAD) Focal System, supervising undersecretary for the youth, elderly, and indigenous people, and alternate chair of the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB).

Romulo-Puyat’s job takes her to different parts of the country, visiting farmers and fisher folk in their work environment. They welcome her into their homes and their fields, and she immerses herself in their daily routines so she can get a firsthand account of how they toil and take care of the land.

“We walk or hike with them to the farms, help with the planting and the harvest, eat with them, talk to them about their concerns. Hearing them tell their stories helps us understand their situation better so we can craft more relevant policies and programs for their community.”