FAO Philippines Newsletter 2015 Issue 2

welcome DRR and agricULture

elcome to the second issue of our experiencing reduced rainfall and higher newsletter. It has been a busy start temperatures, FAO is working with the DA on W to the year for FAO as we continue to preparing an El Niño damage assessment and Contents vigorously pursue projects in support of the needs analysis report on agricultural crops Government. affected in 28 municipalities in Maguindanao.

During the first quarter of the year we have FAO and the DA have also been collaborating Philippines takes launched the web-based Food Security to enhance climate risk management and first steps towards a Information System, completed the chronic disaster preparedness in Bicol - one of the national DRR strategy analysis of food insecurity in 18 provinces in most disaster-prone regions in the Philippines. 3 Mindanao under the Integrated Food Security And today, we’re proud to say that this is now for agriculture Phase Classification (IPC), and scaled up the a model for DRR initiatives. Green Super Rice Early Warning System for Food and Nutrition Security (EWS-FSN) in ten more municipalities. With the ongoing conflict across some areas gives Bicol farmers of Mindanao continuing to cause mass higher yield Meanwhile the recovery interventions have displacement, the restoration of agriculture 4 been accelerated in our Haiyan response and fisheries remains a challenge since the programme. FAO, in close consultation with majority of those affected are smallholder Sustainable agriculture: the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its farmers and marginal fishers, and women. We key to lasting peace in Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources are now currently assessing the impact of this (BFAR), the Department of Agrarian Reform displacement in terms of lost livelihoods. 6 Mindanao (DAR), the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and local government units, is finalizing its Relatedly, FAO has been actively engaged Post-Haiyan Strategic Plan for the medium in the Mindanao peace process and has Seaweed farmers regain term with the aim of building the resilience of assisted the Bangsamoro Development livelihoods after Typhoon affected farming and fishing communities to Agency in formulating the Bangsamoro climate-induced disasters and the impact of Development Plan, particularly on challenges 8 Haiyan climate change. and development prospects in the agriculture and fisheries sector. Among which are In response to a request by the Government the development of strategies that would Contour farming puts early this year, FAO is also assisting in the help link many farmer rebel returnees and farmers back on the formulation of the national disaster risk decommissioned combatants to opportunities reduction (DRR) strategic framework for that would provide better levels of farm path to recovery 10 agriculture and fisheries. The Philippines is incomes. one of the first countries in implementing the shift from reactive emergency response to a Of course, we continue to support the proactive risk reduction approach, and while Government in addressing other equally Events consultations with partners and stakeholders important challenges facing the agriculture at all levels are presently ongoing, I would sector. These include issues on food and 12 like to acknowledge and congratulate the nutrition security, rural poverty, agrarian Government for taking the first steps toward reform, agriculture competitiveness and this direction. market access of small farmers, climate Cover Photo: change impact on agriculture, fisheries ©FAO/J.Lebante The DRR strategy is timely with the resource management and climate smart Philippines currently facing a weak El Niño, aquaculture, and restoring agriculture and as confirmed recently by the state weather fisheries livelihoods in farming and fishing bureau - Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical communities affected by conflicts and natural and Astronomical Services Administration disasters, among others. (PAGASA). With some parts of the country We would like to encourage further support in these areas, which are also considered a priority by the Government. After all, agriculture is one of the fundamental building blocks for reducing poverty, particularly in the farming and fishing communities and also in the attainment of food and nutrition security.

Lastly, I would like to thank all the donor agencies and partners that took time out of their busy schedules to attend our Haiyan briefing in January. The accomplishments and milestones presented at the briefing was a testament to the saying that truly, there is success in working together.

On behalf of FAO, I look forward to future collaborations as we continue to work towards raising the quality of life of the Filipino farmers and fisher folks. ©FAO/S.Miskelly

FAO Representative, José Luis Fernández plants José Luis Fernández mangroves with members of the Barangay Agustin FAO Representative in the Philippines Navarra Environment Conservation Association (BANECA) in the province of Capiz. FAO supports community-based organizations such as BANECA in the rehabilitation of mangrove sites.

2 I FAO Philippines Newsletter 2015 DRR and agricULture ©FAO/Philippines

A climate-smart farmer field school in Mindanao is Philippines takes first steps towards combining DRR knowledge with innovations in climate change adaptation. a national DRR strategy for agriculture

hile the Philippines is one in existing structures as well as establishing good practice options. It of the most disaster-prone climate change adaptation (CCA) and also trains DA regional staff and LGU W countries in the world, it DRR complementarities. A planning extension workers on disaster risk is also one of the most advanced workshop involving senior DA officials management systems, community- countries in implementing the was then proposed to elicit high-level based DRR and CCA planning, climate shift from a reactive emergency inputs that will guide the strategy risk management and early warning, response to a proactive risk design. and information and communications reduction approach. Now, through technology-assisted post-disaster the leadership of the Department The workshop was supported by needs assessments in agriculture. of Agriculture (DA), together with the FAO regional ECHO-funded DRR the technical assistance of FAO and project supporting agriculture in In the Philippines, the DA and FAO financial support from the European southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, continue to work in close partnership Commission for Humanitarian Aid Philippines and Democratic People’s to support ongoing efforts at all levels and Civil Protection (ECHO), the Republic of Korea). With the overall to integrate and mainstream the Philippines will soon have a national leadership of the DA, the project is government’s DRR and climate change disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy assisting select local government adaptation agendas in the agriculture, for agriculture and fisheries. units (LGUs) and farming and fishing fisheries and forestry sectors. communities in identifying and A national planning workshop for the development of strategies for Community-based DRR DRR in agriculture and fisheries was management training held on 26 March 2015 at Subic Bay participants plot the Freeport, with activities led by the Field disaster-prone areas in their municipality. Programs Operation Division of the DA. The workshop was attended by technical staff from various DA central office units as well as senior technical officers, DRR focal points and rice and corn coordinators from all DA regional field offices.

The first part of the workshop involved a brainstorming session on ways to integrate DRR in agriculture from both national and regional perspectives. The second part focused on the identification of DRR management- related priority actions, gaps and capacity development needs at different levels. Other points discussed in the workshop included proposed ©FAO/C. Glavan approaches to address mainstreaming

Issue 2 I 3 DRR and agriculture ©FAO/J.Abelinde

A demonstration farm in Camarines Norte Green Super Rice gives Bicol farmers higher yield that showcases a saltwater-resistant Green Super Rice line

ronting the Pacific Ocean, Bicol allow farmers to observe and what they can by harvesting their is one of the Philippines’ most compare stress-tolerant lines from crops earlier than they should. F disaster-prone regions, but varieties that they traditionally use. farmers here now have a reason The sites for these demonstration “Because of the saltwater intrusion to expect higher productivity in farms have been specifically and drought and with no irrigation spite of more challenging weather chosen because they are located in to wash out the salt particles from conditions. This is thanks to Green communities where flood, drought my farm, my harvest had gone Super Rice (GSR) lines and other and/or saltwater intrusion are down to as low as 14 bags.” Efren stress-tolerant rice varieties that are prevalent. In these areas, farmers said. “Now, you can see how the being introduced and replicated by often have to live with reduced seeds [GSR lines] are performing in the Department of Agriculture (DA) yield because of these hazards. spite of the condition of my farm. I and FAO. think I can harvest more than 100 For Efren Dayaon, a rice farmer bags by the end of this cropping In the Bicol Region, demonstration from Mercedes in Camarines Norte, period.” farms that feature GSR lines have flooding is an accepted occurrence been established in cooperation in his community. During severe Conditions can be equally with local government units to flooding, they are forced to save challenging for farms in drought- prone areas without irrigation facilities. Many farmers in these In spite of saline Fici od ma nis quas dolum aut rem auta areas only have one cropping intrusion, GSR lines period for rice in one year and cullectare in emquass good condition. itatur would have to wait several weeks or months before being able to plant again. With the changing climate patterns, however, predicting the best time to plant is becoming more difficult for farmers like Frank Piquit, who has been farming rice for more than 30 years.

“We now experience the extremes here: flooding during occasional rains, and drought at the height of the summer season,” he said. “I

©FAO/J.Abelinde plant short-term crops like melon

4 I FAO Philippines Newsletter 2015 ©FAO/J.Abelinde project activities/outputs aswell Services Administration todiscuss Geophysical and Astronomical the PhilippineAtmospheric University ofAgricultureand including theCentralBicol State also metwithprojectpartners and farmingcommunities. They including localgovernment units implementation oftheproject, interview keystakeholdersonthe Norte on16-18February2015to Camarines Surand visited theprojectsitesin Representatives fromECHO good practiceoptionfordisaster The introductionofGSRlinesasa intrusion.” condition inspiteofthesaltwater that thericeplantsarestillingood the GSRlines.Theyareimpressed pass bymyfarmoftenaskabout over hisricefield.“Neighbourswho the futureashestandsproudly Dayaon isnowmorehopefulabout continue tobeachallenge,Efren extreme weatherconditionswill While farmersacknowledgethat weather getssounpredictable.” to riskplantingricewhenthe because Idonothavetheresources and watermelontohelpusgetby, to havealarger strategicimpact.” based resilience projectdesigned strong example ofacommunity- praised theprojectasbeing “a policy andplanning,further integration withdevelopment proactive DRRmanagement strengthening capacitiesfor contribution FAOisplaying in acknowledged thesignificant Resilience Compendium,ECHO In therecentlypublishedEU mechanisms intheregion. as generalDRRstrategiesand improving farm-levelresilience. their agriculturalproductivityand farmers intermsofincreasing big differenceforsmallholder These practicescanmakea and watermanagementpractices. use offertilizerandimprovedsoil vegetable gardening,moreefficient good practiceoptionsincluding the projectisalsoshowcasingother of Korea).AsidefromtheGSRlines, the DemocraticPeople’sRepublic (Cambodia, Laos,Philippinesand agriculture insoutheastAsia Protection (ECHO),supporting Humanitarian AidandCivil by theEuropeanCommission’s FAO’s regionalDRRproject,funded risk reduction(DRR)ispartof drought-resistant GSRlinesanswersquestions from ECHOdonorrepresentativeDevriqVelly Regions inMindanao. present intheCaragaandDavao the ECHO-fundedprojectisalso communities. AlongwithBicol, plans withlocalcounterpartsand with 15communitydevelopment a regionalplanofaction,along and management,produced established a Technical Unit for DRR The DARegionalFieldOfficeinBicol today isamodelforDRRinitiatives. disaster preparednessinBicoland climate riskmanagementand been collaboratingtoenhance Since 2009,FAOandtheDAhave from The documentcanbedownloaded resilience_compendium_en.pdf files/policies/resilience/eu_ Efren Dayaon,afarmer-beneficiaryof http://ec.europa.eu/echo/ and FAOfieldofficerIsaganiPineda. Issue 2 I 5

©FAO/J.Abelinde mindanao ©AFP/M.Navales

Sustainable agriculture: key to lasting peace Farmers walk their carabaos past military armoured personnel carriers as they evacuate in Mindanao Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province, in central Mindanao.

n 2014, ten of the 16 poorest Despite its rich natural resources, “A weak agriculture sector holds provinces in the Philippines were Mindanao is not faring well in terms severe implications for sustainable Iin Mindanao. Poor access to basic of harnessing its agricultural potential. development and peace,” FAO services and limited economic While more than 60 percent of Representative in the Philippines, opportunities are results of the ARMM’s economic outputs are José Luis Fernández said. “Successful disruptions and uncertainties caused comprised of agriculture, fisheries reintegration of former MILF by conflict and natural disasters in and forestry products, these are of combatants and displaced households the region. low value. There are virtually limited will only happen if they have the market opportunities for farmers; means to return to farming or fishing.” More than half of the population and agricultural labour productivity in Autonomous Region of Muslim is significantly lower than the other “By assisting them in regaining their Mindanao (ARMM) live in poverty, provinces in the country. When roads productive assets and helping them while 46 percent of the households in are blocked and some areas become make informed decisions about their five of the provinces in the region are off-limits because of armed conflict, livelihoods, they will have a better food insecure. This is largely attributed it becomes increasingly difficult and chance at securing more stable to poverty and low agricultural sometimes impossible to bring the sources of income and have access to productivity. When families are produce to the markets to allow more nutritious food sources,” displaced by armed conflict, farmers to earn sufficient income Mr. Fernández added. communities become resource-poor, and afford the purchase of inputs to and livelihood opportunities and food sustain farming. sources become very limited.

Ironically, most combatants from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) belong to farming and fishing households and are predominantly farmers and fisher folks. Those wanting to return to a life of peace cannot do so owing to lack of access to land and the capital asset to regain their livelihoods. A climate-smart farmer field school in Datu Saudi Ampatuan,

Maguindanao Province. ©FAO/C. Glavan

6 I FAO Philippines Newsletter 2015 Promoting agricultural development their incomes by introducing a more to normalcy of farming and fishing as a means for peace profitable and sustainable approach to households that have been affected fishing and seaweed farming. by the conflict in Mindanao,” Mr. Food secure households, lower Following the signing of the Fernández explained. “Replacing lost malnutrition rates and a lower poverty Framework Agreement on the productive assets is not enough. We incidence in Mindanao is a vision that Bangsamoro and the Comprehensive need to transition from subsistence is shared by FAO, together with the Agreement on the Bangsamoro, FAO farming to more sustainable Bangsamoro Development Agency and has become active in the formulation livelihoods. This will be achieved the Government of the Philippines. of the Bangsamoro Development Plan by providing the farmers with an (BDP) along with other development understanding of how the market Since 2005, FAO has been actively partners. works, facilitating their access to engaged in the rehabilitation of improved production systems and agriculture- and fisheries-based One of the flagship programmes of making their farms climate-resilient.” livelihoods in conflict-affected BDP is the Bangsamoro Sustainable and disaster-affected areas in Agriculture Programme. This In facilitating these interventions, Mindanao, including the ARMM, programme aims to increase farm FAO will be focusing on smallholder Central Mindanao, Davao Oriental productivity, income and food security, farmers and marginal fishers, and Zamboanga City. For almost with greater focus to vulnerable including decommissioned MILF a decade, FAO has been providing groups. For the transition period, combatants and women, as they agricultural and fisheries inputs, FAO intends to support smallholder constitute the largest segments of the training farmers and fishers on farmers and fishers by enhancing their Bangsamoro workforce. improved technologies, practices and capacities to jumpstart the restoration livelihood options, and strengthening and rehabilitation of their livelihoods, FAO’s projects in Mindanao have been their resilience to disasters. Through engage in microenterprises especially funded through the UN Peacebuilding the UN Peacebuilding Fund, FAO along for women, get access to markets Fund, UN Central Emergency Response with other UN agencies and national and sustain their gains by integrating Fund, the European Commission counterparts is preparing to assist climate-resilient agriculture principles Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection ©AFP/M.Navales families who were affected by the in their production and processing. (ECHO) and the Governments of siege in Zamboanga City in September Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and 2013. FAO support will specifically “The focus of FAO’s work is to restore Spain. address fisher families to increase livelihoods to facilitate the return

FAO introduced ‘floating fish cages’ to teach farmers to farm fish and not just rely on catching fish in the wild. ©FAO/C. Glavan

Issue 2 I 7 Haiyan Fisheries Rehabilitation

Farmers engage in agricultural-based entrepreneurship ©FAO/S.Miskelly

Seaweed farmers regain livelihoods Jessica Paguia, a seaweed farmer from Coron after Typhoon Haiyan

hen Typhoon Haiyan For 31-year-old Jessica Paguia, “With so many seaweed farmers struck in November 2013, from the Tagbanua indigenous affected, it was critical to re- W it severely damaged and group on the island of Coron, establish their assets in order destroyed many seaweed facilities farming seaweed is a family affair for them to recommence their and production, crippling the and has been their main source seaweed culture operations,” income of Filipino coastal farmers of income for the small coastal says Godardo Juanich, FAO Senior who relied on this as their main community for the past 20 years. Aquaculture and Mariculture source of livelihood. Consultant. “When Yolanda came, our house The Philippines is one of the and all our farming materials The assistance provided by world’s largest producers of were washed out by the typhoon,” FAO included seaweed farming seaweed and initial assessments said Jessica, looking out at the packages consisting of nylon lines, after the typhoon showed that water that houses their livelihood. floats and planting materials, along USD 12.2 million was lost in “We didn’t know where to start, with home-based seaweed drying the aquaculture and seaweed because we lost everything and facilities, and establishing seaweed production alone. have relied on seaweed farming nurseries to enable diversification for so many years. Everyone was and culturing of seaweed species. As part of its recovery and affected – not only our family.” rehabilitation response for the fisheries sector, FAO worked FAO Senior Aquaculture and Mariculture together with the Bureau of Consultant, Godardo Juanich inspects the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources nylon lines used for seaweed farming. to provide livelihood and rehabilitation assistance to 2 000 seaweed farming beneficiaries, including 1 000 households in the four municipalities of the islands of Palawan: Coron, Busuanga, Culion and Linapacan. ©FAO/S.Miskelly

8 I FAO Philippines Newsletter 2015 ©FAO/S.Miskelly systems offish trading,processing aimed toreactivate andstrengthen programme after TyphoonHaiyan FAO’s FisheriesRehabilitation The post-harvestcomponent of fish. salting, dryingandmarketing of important roleinthepost-harvest of thefisheriessectorandplayan an integralpartofthevaluechain to thefishmarkets.Womenare also duetotheextensivedamage husbands wereunabletofishbut vulnerable, notonlybecausetheir fishers, hadbecomeparticularly in fisheries,especiallywivesof After TyphoonHaiyan,women W buy seedlingsandinputstore- victims toloansharksinorder many ofthefarmerswerefalling In theaftermathoftyphoon, losses.” the traininghelpedustocutour to transferthembeforedrying,so shrink. Wedidn’tknowthatwehad them whichcausedtheseaweedto harvesting theseaweedanddrying says. “Priortothis,wewerejust for seaweedtoreproduce,”Jessica grounds, andtheperiodittakes cutting, transferringtonursery “We learntthingslikeproper how togainaccessmarkets. seaweed farmmaintenanceand sites, thepreparationofseedlings, to selectmoresuitablefarming Trainings wereprovidedonhow introduce betterfarmingpractices. the recoveryandrehabilitationto presented anopportunityduring farming wasextensive,italso While thedamagetoseaweed fisheries trainingandrecipientofadryingrack. Nora Avicio,abeneficiaryofthepost-harvest omen benefitfrom post-harvesttraining anddrying racks salt, drainbaskets, plasticbasins, inputs provided suchasfishtubs, This isinaddition toprevious industry ofdriedfishprocessing. women workinginthecottage 2 700dryingracksinsupport of completed itsdistribution of being women.FAOalsorecently with 80percentofthosetrained fishers withpost-harvesttraining, To-date, FAOhasprovided2000 trading andprocessing. are valuabletoolsinfishvending, and lostduringthetyphoon processing kitsthatweredamaged provision ofpost-harvestand and value-addingthroughthe have asourceoflivelihood,”she “Without thissupportwewouldn’t resilient seaweedfarms. establishing moreproductiveand are slowlyrecoveringandre- farmers likeJessicaandherfamily training they’vereceived,seaweed With thekits,materialsand for inputs.” too dependentonothersources thereby allowingthemtonotbe to producetheirownseedlings, markets, andtheynowknowhow farmers howtodirectlyaccessthe Juanich explains.“We’reshowing from thesemiddlemen,Mr. will nolongerneedtogetloans we haveprovidedmeansthey “The inputsandtrainingthat market value. their seaweedproductsatbelow rates andbeingobligedtosellback vicious cycleofpayinghighinterest establish theirfarms,settingupa University. and theWestern Philippines Skills andDevelopment Authority Labour Organization,the Technical collaboration withtheInternational (in RegionIV-Bonly)wasin component oftheproject communities. Thedrying racks affected fisherfolksandfishing resilient livelihoodstoHaiyan- of providingmeaningfuland the sharedandcommongoal Resources tocontributetowards Bureau ofFisheriesandAquatic The projectpartneredwiththe and butcheringknives. weighing scales,choppingboards fisheries programmeisfundedby: Western VisayasandMIMAROPA.The of thePhilippines:EasternVisayas, fishing familiesacrossthreeregions sector andassistingaround19000 is providingsupporttothefisheries Programme, ofwhichUSD8.2million Haiyan RecoveryandRehabilitation part ofFAO’sUSD39.7million Support toseaweedfarmingis to recoverfromwhatwelost.” sufficient capitalforustobeable day andthematerialsarealso to meetourbasicneedsevery about onething:“Wearenowable future holds,butsheissure Jessica doesn’tknowwhatthe climate conditions.” adapt ourstrategiesaccordingto of techniquesthatwe’velearntand seaweed farmsthroughthevariety says. “Wecannowexpandour Issue 2 I 9

Contour farming puts farmers Coconut farmers are being trained on contour farming, which is not only building resilience to weather-related disasters but also introducing innovative changes in the way back on the path to recovery farming is done to increase productivity in a sustainable manner.

uilding the resilience of farmers beneficiaries of FAO’s recovery and during the initial phases of the is a key priority of FAO’s recovery rehabilitation response programme. emergency. This forced her to look for B and rehabilitation efforts in Lalane and her husband have a small other means of income. “Without the the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. farm and lost several of their coconut expected harvest, I do laundry work to For farmers whose coconut stands stands and smaller crops after the support our family,” she said. “When were destroyed by the typhoon, this typhoon. But like most women-headed my children leave for school, I used to means being provided with a stable households, she was unable to benefit plant vegetables and attend to other source of alternative livelihood that from emergency employment and chores. But because my children are can be sustained even with limited agricultural inputs provided by the still young, I can only plant near our land resources and capital. Government and other agencies house.”

In response to this challenge, FAO established Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) sites in Haiyan- affected areas to allow coconut-based farming communities to plant short- term and annual crops to provide alternative livelihood sources and make use of idle land under coconut plantations. SALT (also known as contour farming) was adopted in these areas because it is an ecologically- sound method of upland and contour farming that is specifically developed for smallholder farmers with few tools, little capital and limited farming grounds.

Lalane Perucho, a coconut farmer Lalane Perucho, a coconut from Balete, Aklan is one of the farmer and beneficiary from

10 I FAO Philippines Newsletter 2015 ©FAO/S.Miskelly ©FAO/V.Villafranca household. and contributetotheincome ofthe from communityfarmingactivities allow womentoparticipateandlearn of thebeneficiariesandtherefore are locatedwithinthecommunities for theirlivelihood.TheseSALTsites on coconut-basedfarmingsystems around 35500householdsthatrely SALT sitesinRegionVI–benefitting SALT sitesinRegionVIIIand28 To-date, FAOhasestablished92 been soimportant.” and high-valuecropslikegingerhas bringing inothervalue-addedoptions why introducingSALTfarmingand suitable foreverylocationwhichis with riceandcorn,butthisisnot were alreadydiversifyingtheirfarms farming. “Somecoconutfarmers step intermsofdiversifyingtheir to recoverybuttakeitthenext designed tonotonlylinkemergency programme forfarmerswas Haiyan RecoveryandRehabilitation Haiyan ProgrammeCoordinator,the According toPeterAgnew,FAO a lot.” additional sourceofincomewillhelp to supportintheirschooling.This Lalane added.“Ihavefourchildren sell itatahigherprice(perkilo),” crops likegingerbecausewecan again. “Wenowwanttoplantmore coconut standstobecomeproductive more incomewhiletheywaitfortheir value cropslikegingerandearn prospects forfarmerstogrowhigh- SALT farmingisalsoofferingbetter months,” Lalaneexplained. which wecanharvestinthree planted eggplant,tomatoandchilli, it takesayeartoharvest,wealso planted pineapple,butbecause techniques forintercropping.“We provided withadditionalskillsand Through thetraining,farmerswere out oflandwherewecanplant.” erosion. Becauseofthatwewon’trun plant inhillyareasandprevent she said.“Welearnedthatwecan when weattendedtheSALTtraining,” steep placelikethis.Welearnedalot know thatyoucanplantcropsona of hercommunity.“Before,wedonot farming activitieswithinthevicinity with anopportunitytoresumeher The SALTtrainingprovidedLalane associations wereabletopresent During theceremony,farmers Lake Danao. Technology (SALT)sitesinBarangay of theSlopingAgriculturalLand planting ofahardwoodtreeinone event wasmarkedbytheceremonial from fourmunicipalities,theclosing members offarmersassociations local governments,alongwith representatives fromregionaland Attended byofficialsand of small-scalefarmers. sufficiency andbuildingtheresilience income generation,foodself- agencies: restorationoflivelihoods, the synergiesbetweenthree province. Theprojectfocusedon affected byTyphoonHaiyaninLeyte communities thatwereseverely small-scale riceandcornfarming of theUK-fundedprojectsupporting Children recentlymarkedtheclosure Organization (ILO)andSavethe FAO, theInternationalLabour closes withceremony inOrmoc F Visayas, WesternVisayasand MIMAROPA) andisfundedbytheGovernmentsof: 35 500coconutfarmingfamilies acrossthreeregionsofthePhilippines(Eastern recovery needsofaffectedfarmingfamilies.TheCBFSprogramme isassistingsome USD 39.7millionTyphoonHaiyanStrategicResponsePlanto addresstheearly FAO’s Coconut-BasedFarmingSystems(CBFS)programmeis partofFAO’s AO-ILO-Save the Children Haiyanproject farming households. building to6800riceandcorn practices, andprovidedcapacity developed alternativeagricultural term employmentopportunities, The jointprojectsupportedshort- said. debris andwestoodup,”Ms.Yap-Ang security. “Wehaverisenfromthe to stabilizetheirlivelihoodandfood the peopleofOrmochavestarted noted how,thankstotheproject, San Isidro,theHon.SusanYap-Ang Speaking attheevent,Mayorof shredders andcultivators. including ricethreshers,reapers, various farmimplementsdistributed, maintenance andrepairforthe trainings providedtofarmerson handover followstheindividual the localgovernment.Theassets’ transfer certificatesfromFAOand SALT sitesandalsoreceivedasset maintenance andproductionofthe their accomplishmentsandplansfor Coordinator, PeterAgnewandFieldOperations Officer, RetchelSasingplantahardwoodtree. FAO’s EmergencyResponseManager,Alessia Anibaldi togetherwithHaiyanProgramme Issue 2I 11

©FAO/R. Belila Events ©UNIC/Philippines ©FAO/A.Benedetti ©FAO/A.Aduna 151st FAO Executive UN Special Rapporteur FAO Haiyan Donor Council - Philippines on right to food visits Briefing presents resilience Philippines case studies

FAO’s Haiyan donor briefing was The United Nations Special Rapporteur A side event featuring FAO’s work on held on Tuesday 27 January at the on the right to food, Hilal Elver, undertook increasing resilience of livelihoods to Intercontinental Hotel in Makati, to an official visit to the Philippines from 20 threats and crises was held in Rome update the donor community of the to 27 February 2015 to gather first-hand during the 151st session of FAO’s substantive accomplishments of FAO’s information on the realization of the right Executive Council meeting in March. The Haiyan projects and highlight the benefits to food in the country. side event showcased achievements on and impact that the projects have so far risk reduction and management in the generated. Ms. Elver, visited the country at the contexts of Guatemala, the Niger, the invitation of the Government, and Philippines and Yemen. The event was attended by 18 engaged with the authorities to identify representatives of the donor community, the main obstacles hindering the full Segfredo Serrano, Undersecretary along with 20 representatives from realization of the right to food and for Policy, Planning, Research and government departments and institutions, propose strategies for tackling these Development, and Regulations of the providing an opportunity to thank the obstacles and improving the enjoyment of Philippines’ Department of Agriculture donors for their various contributions rights by the most vulnerable in society. (DA) was a panellist in the side event as well as government partners for their and illustrated how, long-term strategy effective collaboration. The Government has declared its and risk-sensitive development was commitment to developing a national prioritized in response to Typhoon Haiyan “Our work, however, does not end there,” framework for ensuring the right to to build back better and improve disaster said José Luis Fernández, FAO-Philippines adequate food and Ms. Elver commended preparedness. Country Representative in his closing the efforts made to date to develop remarks. “Everyone will agree that the policies to ensure food security, however Mr. Serrano also highlighted the next crucial step that must be undertaken she warned that access to sufficient effective collaboration and joint efforts is towards disaster risk reduction and and nutritious food is still limited in the between FAO and the DA on climate risk management as well as building resilience Philippines despite recent progress. management and disaster preparedness of concerned offices and communities of local governments and communities in against future similar extreme events.” During her seven-day mission, Ms. Elver the Bicol Region. met with senior Government officials In closing, Mr. Fernández outlined FAO’s and representatives of Parliamentary The DA and FAO work in close partnership key priority areas for the next four years, committees, international organizations, to mainstream DRR in agriculture which involves promoting sustainable development agencies, academia and across government levels, with the local peace and development through support a range of civil society and grass root government units providing support in to agriculture in Mindanao, interventions organizations. the preparation of community-based on risk and crisis governance; and disaster risk reduction and management supporting DRR measures through early This was the first visit to the country by an plans. Both the DA and FAO support warning systems and building resilience independent expert on the right to food ongoing efforts to integrate the to help minimize losses and facilitate assigned by the UN Human Rights Council government’s DRR and climate change immediate recovery. to report on initiatives to ensure the full adaptation agendas in the agriculture, realization of the right to food. fisheries and forestry sectors.

FAO Representation in the Philippines Food and Agriculture Organization 29th Floor, Yuchengco Tower 1, RCBC Plaza 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Philippines of the United Nations Email: [email protected] Website: www.fao.org/philippines