The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reaffirmed their long-standing partnership to transform agrifood systems and bolster food security in Southeast Asia during a high-level meeting in Manila.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. met with Dr. Alue Dohong, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, to align priorities focused on climate resilience, innovation, and inclusive growth.
“We are not only talking about food security. We are committing to the transformation of agrifood systems with investment, innovation, and inclusive growth,” said Tiu Laurel.
The meeting highlighted over four decades of collaboration between the Philippines and FAO, now evolving to confront pressing challenges including climate change, disease outbreaks, and volatile food prices.
Tiu Laurel confirmed the Philippines’ full support for the World Food Forum (WFF) 2025, where DA will showcase youth-led innovations, agritech solutions, and climate-smart farming. He emphasized the need for WFF to serve as a launchpad for public-private partnerships and practical implementation.
The country also committed to active participation in FAO’s 80th anniversary (FAO80) celebrations through high-level representation, exhibits, and events highlighting progress in agriculture, fisheries, and rural development.
Acknowledging decades of underinvestment, Tiu Laurel requested FAO’s technical assistance to help the Philippines catch up on 27 years of backlogs in agricultural development. He identified seaweed, mango, abaca, and bamboo as key commodities with high economic and social impact potential.
“The Philippines wants to move beyond project proposals to implementation pathways, with FAO’s support through normative guidance, technical assistance, and convening power,” he added.
Looking ahead, the Philippines will contribute expertise on climate resilience, digital agriculture, fisheries, and nutrition at the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC) 2026. The country also renewed its offer to host APRC 39 in 2028, reinforcing its aspiration to become a regional hub for agrifood innovation and South–South knowledge exchange.
In addition, the Philippines will host the Regional Conference on Agricultural Mechanization in 2026, with Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa leading preparations in coordination with relevant DA agencies.
Both parties agreed to jointly refine the upcoming Country Programming Framework (CPF 2025–2031), aligning it with the Philippine Development Plan, climate goals, and the national food security agenda. The revised framework will focus on accelerating reforms and delivering measurable benefits for farmers, fishers, and rural communities.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to translate dialogue into concrete action. “By combining FAO’s technical expertise and convening power with the Philippines’ reform agenda and investment priorities, we can deliver lasting improvements in food security, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience,” said Tiu Laurel.
This renewed collaboration positions the Philippines as a regional leader in advancing sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agrifood systems.
