CELEBRATING 40 YEARS IN THE PHILIPPINES FAO Philippines Newsletter 2018 - Issue #1 Featured Stories FAO, legislators launch pilot parliamentary alliance for food security and nutrition in the Philippines Launch of Philippine Valuation Standards 2017 edition Strengthening risk-based food import control FAO, Belgium help restore food security and agricultural livelihoods in conflict-affected communities in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao FAO’s Early Warning, Early Action Initiative Integrated Food Production Project helps communities with high incidence of malnutrition Working with traditional agro-ecosystems communities in the Philippines Building coalition with youth in sustainable development through agriculture, forestry and fishery Cover photo: ©FAO/Noel Celis Maira Palindok, a beneficiary of seedlings from FAO-Belgium Marawi Response WELCOME Project, at a Food Security Convergence Nursery at Barangay Guimba, Marawi City, reetings from the FAO Representation project distributed agricultural inputs to increase Lanao del Sur. in the Philippines! I am pleased to the production of vegetables, poultry meat and Gwelcome you once again to a new eggs to provide additional income and supply of Contents issue of our country newsletter. nutritious food to poor families. FAO, legislators launch pilot We started off 2018 with the launch of the FAO partnered with a local NGO Yakap Kalikasan parliamentary alliance for food FAO Legislative Advisory Group-Philippines Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Pilipinas, Inc. (or Yakap security and nutrition in the (FLAG-PH). The parliamentary alliance, Kalikasan) for the project, “Building Coalition 3 Philippines initially composed of 10 legislators from both with Youth in Sustainable Development through houses of Congress, is envisaged to tackle Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery” projects to Launch of Philippine Valuation national food security and nutrition issues by encourage and engage young people to be the Standards 2017 edition taking the necessary legislative actions that next generation of farmers, food entrepreneurs, would impact on the agriculture, fisheries, scientists, agronomists, extension workers and 4 forestry, and environment and natural government leaders, among others. Strengthening risk-based food resources sectors. import control FAO also held a training on “Resiliency Assessment This issue features the visit of His for Climate Smart Agroecosystems’ Communities 5 Excellency Michel Goffin, Ambassador and the International Treaty” in Banaue, Ifugao in FAO, Belgium help restore of the Government of the Kingdom of March with an overarching goal of mainstreaming food security and agricultural Belgium to the Philippines, to communities the conservation and sustainable use of agro- livelihoods in conflict-affected in Marawi City who were affected by the biodiversity in the Philippines and to foster 6 communities in ARMM Marawi siege in 2017 and who are now on a greater understanding of the importance the road to recovery. While humanitarian of traditional agro-ecosystems in achieving relief continues, FAO, with support from the sustainable agriculture while coping with climate FAO’s Early Warning, Early Government of the Kingdom of Belgium, has change. Action Initiative been delivering assistance to help returning 8 and displaced farmers to re-establish their While our efforts in the country continue, sadly livelihoods and food security. we lost one of the most committed advocates of Integrated Food Production FAO’s work in the first quarter of 2018. Mr Aristeo Project helps communities with We also highlight our partnership with “Aris” Portugal, who served as FAO Assistant high incidence of malnutrition the Department of Finance - Bureau of Representative for Programme from 2009 until 9 Local Government Finance in updating the his retirement in 2016, unfortunately passed Working with traditional agro- Philippine Valuation Standards (PVS). The away in February. Aris contributed greatly to the ecosystems communities in the development of the PVS is part of a broader work of FAO in the Philippines and steered the Philippines program of the national government to country programme to new heights and direction. 10 introduce reforms in land administration, The FAO staff and colleagues in the development Building coalition with youth which consists of property valuation and and agriculture sector will surely miss Aris’ easy taxation. FAO’s support to this initiative is in sustainable development manner and strong leadership. anchored on promoting transparent and through agriculture, forestry participatory decision-making, in protecting As we ushered in the new year, we believe it is 11 and fisheries people from arbitrary loss of tenure rights, imperative that we continue to evaluate the way and in ensuring that no one is subject to Events we work to ensure that we remain responsive discrimination and that issues are resolved to the needs of our time. Any progress we hope before they degenerate into conflict. to achieve under the Sustainable Development 12 agenda would be impossible if we do not first Likewise featured in this publication are resolve core development issues. We cannot our most recent activities on helping to achieve the global goals on poverty, hunger, lack strengthen national capacity for risk-based of education, ensure good health for all, foster food import control within a One Health lasting peace and build sustainable cities when framework. FAO worked closely with the people’s access to food and livelihoods especially Department of Agriculture in conducting in rural areas are not fully addressed. consultation meetings and field visits in major ports of entry for the drafting of the On behalf of FAO, I would like to thank you once “National Situation Report: Imported Food again, donors and development partners in the Control in the Philippines”. The report, international development community and in the which will soon be finalized, is an initial national agencies, for the trust, encouragement step to enable the Philippines to enhance and support that you have accorded us through and strengthen its national imported food the years. control system. Mabuhay! In the Municipality of Canaman in Camarines Sur, the Integrated Food Production Project funded under the Telefood Programme has helped enhance the capacities of communities with high incidences of José Luis Fernández malnutrition to be more food-sufficient. The FAO Representative in the Philippines José Luis Fernández, FAO Representative in the Philippines, with the Ambassador of the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium His Excellency Michel Goffin (3rd from right), Task Force Bangon ©FAO/Noel Celis Marawi Field Office Manager and Assistant secretary Felix Castro (2nd from right), and officials from the Department of Agrarian Reform during a distribution of agricultural inputs to families affected by the 2 I FAO Philippines Newsletter 2018 Marawi conflict. PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCE FAO, legislators launch pilot parliamentary alliance for food security and nutrition in the Philippines ©FAO/Jaclyn Grey FAO Representative in the Philippines José Luis Fernández and Senator Cynthia Villar mark the launch of the FAO Legislative Advisory Group-Philippines (FLAG-PH) with a symbolic exchange of tokens on 17 January 2018 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. he Food and Agriculture Organization and good practices. They will also “Legislators are crucial in creating of the United Nations (FAO) is further hold consultations with provincial and an environment that enables the Tstrengthening its partnership with municipal governments, local legislative the Government of the Philippines to councils, farmers, fisherfolks, indigenous poor and marginalized to have a ensure food security and nutrition in the groups and civil society organizations. better chance of improving their country with the recent launch of the FAO quality of life and contributing to Legislative Advisory Group-Philippines The FLAG-PH launch was attended by the country’s food security and (FLAG-PH). Senator Cynthia Villar (Chairperson, Senate Agriculture Committee), Senator sustainable growth. But for them The parliamentary alliance, initially Sonny Angara (Chairperson, Senate to enact responsive, well-informed composed of 10 legislators from both Local Government, Ways and Means and evidence-based laws, it is houses of Congress, is envisaged to tackle Committee), Representative Deogracias national food security and nutrition issues Victor Savellano (Chairperson of North essential that they have access by taking the necessary legislative actions Luzon Growth Quadrangle Committee, to timely and sound technical that would impact on the agriculture, Senior Vice-Chairperson of Agrarian advice and information. FLAG-PH is fisheries, forestry, and environment and Reform Committee), Representative intended to serve as a platform for natural resources sectors. Peter Calderon (Vice-Chairperson - Global World Trade Organization Committee), sharing expertise, experiences, and The Philippines continues to face Representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy global good practices,” said FAO challenges in addressing food insecurity (Chairperson of House of Representatives Representative in the Philippines and malnutrition, with 1.3 million families Public Information Committee, for Gender José Luis Fernández. or 8.3 million Filipinos unable to meet their Representation), and representatives basic food needs in 2015 according to a from the offices of Senator Loren Legarda constitutional and legislative