Phl reiterates position on marine BBNJ in 9th AHWG meeting

The Philippines reiterated its support to the 2011 package on high seas conservation and management at the 9th meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group (AHWG) last January 20-23 at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York City.

A small group convened to draft an informal working paper as a basis for negotiations in plenary during the 9th meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group last January 20-23. (Courtesy of International Institute for Sustainable Development).

The package states that, “the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), in particular, together and as a whole, marine genetic resources, including marine protected areas, and environmental impact assessments, capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology.”

These elements, the Philippine delegation emphasized, should be the basis and mandate for the negotiations of the new implementing agreement on the conservation and management of marine BBNJ.

Attended by around 200 participants which includes national delegations, as well as inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, the meeting was the last of the three series of the AHWG convened by the UN General Assembly pursuant to its resolution 68/70.

It generally aims to serve as venue to study the issue of the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity and the scope, parameters and feasibility of a new international instrument on BBNJ.

Speaking on behalf of UN Secretary-General, Undersecretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel Miguel de Serpa Soares noted that differences still remain in the deliberations on BBNJ and called upon delegates to “crystallize ideas in areas of convergence” in order to meet the deadline to submit recommendations to the General Assembly.

Meanwhile, Co-Chair Palitha Kohona of Sri Lanka highlighted the growing support for a new legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the law of the Sea. She noted that such instrument should be holistic and consider the needs of both developing and developed countries.

On the other hand, Co-Chair Liesbeth Lijnzaad of the Netherlands reported that a synthesis of the key ideas discussed in the two previous meetings had been circulated to national delegations in December 2014 as a Co-Chairs’ non-paper containing draft elements of a recommendation to the General Assembly, as well as an updated compilation of state submissions.

The last meeting of the Working Group started with rehashed positions for a new implementing agreement on marine BBNJ. Majority of the participants agreed that a new treaty would provide the urgent and most effective response to the threats on deep-sea biodiversity.

After discussions on the draft elements of recommendations prepared by the Co-Chairs along with the draft texts of other Regional Groups, the G77/China, the largest group of countries in the UN where the Philippines is a member, affirmed its proposal for the UN General Assembly “to convene an inter-governmental conference on BBNJ to elaborate a legally binding instrument under UNCLOS,” to consider convening a PrepCom, establishing the  mandate, rules of procedures and calendar of meetings of the PrepCom, and deciding on the specific date of the inter-governmental conference and a timeline for the negotiations.

The Philippine delegation to the 9th AHWG meeting was composed of Atty. Igor Bailen of the Philippine Mission to the UN, Dr. Theresa Lim of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Atty. Asis Perez of the Bureau of Aquatic Resources, Atty. Jose Mostajo and Bertrand Theodor Santos of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Atty. Dennis Guerrero of the Department of Agriculture, Engr. Ariel Cayanan and Sarah Bales of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) and Atty. Dennis Escolango of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

The stakeholders, particularly the academe and non-government organizations, have actively participated in the development of the Philippine position through the PCAF, serving as venue for policy development.

-With reports from International Institute for Sustainable Development

Source: http://www.pcaf.da.gov.ph/news/2015/marine.html

Stakeholders convene for upcoming APEC-PPFS meeting

The Department of Agriculture (DA), the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) spearheaded a Stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Policy Partnership on Food Security (PPFS) on February 20 at the National Irrigation Authority office in Quezon City.

This is in preparation for the APEC Food Security Week and Related Meetings which is among the high-level meetings of the 23rd APEC summit to be hosted later this year by the Philippines. A consultative meeting on PPFS is among the related activities that will be conducted, alongside a High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and the Blue Economy (HLPFSBE), High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology and Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group.

Around 200 members of the private sector, most of whom are part of the PCAF’s National Sectoral Committees (NSCs) were present at the said consultation. DA Undersecretary for Fisheries and BFAR Director Asis Perez briefly discussed the background of the APEC and the PPFS.

USec. Perez shared that the APEC-PPFS is a “unique and innovative forum” for stakeholders of food security from the public and private sectors, including business and farmers, institutes for research and development and international organizations.

“The PPFS is expected to play a major role to enhance food security of the APEC region since close collaboration among stakeholders is required to address various cross-cutting food security issues. The PPFS is tasked to primarily examine policy issues as they relate to food security, while remaining cognizant of the capacity-building work in APEC bodies,” said USec. Perez who also serves as the chairperson for the Sub-Committees on HLPFSBE, PPFS and Oceans and Fisheries Working Group that constitute the DA National Organizing Committee for the APEC Food Security Week and Related Meetings

In its inaugural meeting during the Food Security Week in 2012, the PPFS was tasked to formulate a road map which will serve as a basis for a business plan to accomplish the identified objectives and goals which is geared towards the attainment of a food system structure by 2020, sufficient to provide lasting food security to APEC members.

A forum was opened for the stakeholders to offer their insights and raise their concerns with regards food security. Among the issues raised are the huge loss and waste in the agri-fishery sector, tariff and non-tariff barriers, storage facilities, investment policy issues and harmonization of standards among APEC member countries, importation of mechanically deboned meat, and farmers’ access to credit.

They then sought for the conduct of a benchmark study on the policies, practices and subsidies offered by the other APEC member countries and a social and environmental benchmark to protect citizens and the environment.

Meanwhile, USec. Perez announced the five sub-sector groups that will be engaged in the APEC-PPFS meeting and they are Food Staples; Fruits and High Value Crops; Fisheries and Aquaculture; Poultry and Livestock and; Processing and Manufacturing. The PCAF will determine the representatives for each of the sub-sector and the BFAR will endorse the selection to the DA.

Source: http://www.pcaf.da.gov.ph/news/2015/stakeholders.html

NSC, RAFC chairpersons call for increased recognition of AFCs

Increased support and recognition for the Agricultural and Fishery Councils (AFCs) is essential for the development of the agriculture and fishery sector, chairpersons of the National Sectoral Committees (NSCs) and the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Councils (RAFCs) stressed during a joint consultation last March 19.

The said consultation was conducted by the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) at the La Breza Hotel, Quezon City for its 2016 draft plan and budget proposal. A comparative analysis of the NSCs’ and the AFCs’ performance in 2010-2014 and the 2015 approved plan and budget were also presented.

The YFFTPJ Batch 2014 with their “otosan”, or foster fathers, during the YFFTPJ 30th
Anniversary Celebration and National Convention.

The NSC and RAFC Chairpersons stressed at the consultation that there should be strict compliance to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2013, issued in January 2013, on the extension of full support to the local AFCs as private sector partners in the implementation of local development policies, plans and programs.

The memo circular has also reiterated DILG Memo Circulars 97-271 and 98-200 on the participation of the local government units (LGUs) in the AFCs and of the AFCs in the Local Development Councils and Memo Circular No. 2001-121 on the involvement of the AFCs in the local planning and budgeting to ensure inclusion of the AFC budget in the LGU’s annual appropriation.

The group of NSC and AFC chairpersons then proposed for the crafting of a set of implementing rules and regulations for the said memo circular or for its issuance as an executive order which could serve as a stronger governing instrument on the LGUs and other concerned government agencies.

They also voiced out the need to periodically re-orient the LGUs and the AFCs on the provisions of this memo circular and suggested that 80 percent of the DA’s funds for consultations for the different programs be set aside for the NSCs and the AFCs which are under the PCAF.

Apart from this, they also asked that the DA’s memorandum on the involvement of the NSCs and AFCs in the early stages of the DA planning process be strictly complied with.

The AFCs are the private sector-led advisory arm of the DA in the provinces, cities and municipalities while the NSCs are commodity-based consultative bodies at the national levels that also have regional, provincial, city and municipal counterparts within the existing AFCs.

“The role of these consultative bodies in addressing the challenges faced by the agriculture and fisheries sector and in coming up with strategies to attain sustainability and improve the lives of farmers and fisherfolk is and will continue to be paramount,” PCAF Executive Director Ariel Cayanan said in his opening remarks.

PCAF Executive Director Ariel Cayanan expounds on some of the agency’s planned
initiatives for 2016.

Strengthening policy development and monitoring efforts

With the unique collaborative mechanism that the PCAF provides for the government and private sector for policy development, the NSC and AFC chairpersons stressed the need to enhance the agency’s competency in policy analysis especially on agribusiness and supply and value-chain analysis.

To improve the policy development activities, particularly of the AFCs, the chairpersons suggested collaboration with state universities and colleges in the preparation of policy briefs, augmenting the manpower and logistical support to the provincial and municipal AFCs, and provision of incentives for the coordinators and agricultural officers especially in the municipal levels.

They also asked the PCAF to ensure that there is shared understanding among the NSCs and the AFCs on the performance indicators and targets and on their role in attaining these. They also hoped that the RAFC chairpersons also become a part of the operational planning activities being conducted by the agency for the AFCs.

For 2016, as part of its Tier 2 budget, the PCAF is proposing additional budget for the meetings of AFCs as well as incentives, study tours, trainings, and equipment provisions for them.

This is aside from the continuance of 2015 activities, indicated under the Tier 1, which include the regular meetings of the NSCs, the AFCs and the National Agriculture and Fisheries Council, which is the highest governing body supported by the PCAF, area-wide policy dialogues and forums, sectoral congresses, and the participation of NSC representatives in AFC consultations which is aimed at strengthening the relationship and linkage between the two consultative bodies.

The two tiers in the PCAF’s budget and plan proposal is in line with the Department of Budget and Management’s policy for the 2016 plan and budget preparation to separate the reviews for on-going/approved programs vis-à-vis new or expanded ones to give better focus on each type of program.

To further ensure the smooth implementation of programs and projects for the agriculture and fishery sector, the NSC and AFC chairpersons urged the PCAF to consider using the Constructors’ Performance Evaluation System for its monitoring function for 2016 and to reiterate a previous administrative order on the allocation of 15 percent of the regional banner program funds for AFC monitoring.

PCAF Deputy Executive Director addresses some of the concerns of the NSC and RAFC Chairpersons.

In her closing speech read by PCAF’s Partnership Development Division Chief Elgie Namia, Deputy Executive Director Florabelle Uy-Yap assured the NSC and AFC chairpersons that their contributions will be used in improving the agency’s 2016 plan and budget proposal and looked forward to their engagement in ensuring that the approved programs, projects and activities are carried out effectively.

Prior to the consultation, officials from the Asian Social Enterprise Incubator discussed the proposed Philippines Inclusive Business Accreditation Scheme. The said project is commissioned by the Asian Development Bank to be able to assess the viability of establishing in the Philippines a $100-million fund for “inclusive business”, which is a profitable and sustainable entrepreneurial initiative that seeks to contribute to both company growth and poverty reduction.

source: http://www.pcaf.da.gov.ph/news/2015/rafc.html

RAFC 4B to help boost region's Halal industry

In a full council meeting spearheaded by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) December last year, stakeholders from different government agencies discussed the importance of forming a regional technical working group (TWG) to spearhead the development of the Halal industry in Region 4B (MIMAROPA).

“This is in view of the growing market worldwide for Halal products and the attractive business opportunities brought by the ASEAN Economic Community integration,” Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council (RAFC) 4B Chairperson Melquiades Macalintal explained.

The TWG is composed of officials from Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, National Commission of Muslim Filipinos, RAFC and a private sector representative. The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) Executive Director will serve as chairperson.

A TWG meeting was held last March 13 in Quezon City “to identify all pertinent areas of concern and to formulate plans and programs on investment opportunities in the world market,” he added.

Prior to the meeting, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala signed a memorandum dated February 16, 2015 for the DA RFOs to create their respective TWGs in support to the DA Halal Food Industry Development Program.

“Halal industry is really an important area of concern that we should look into to identify all pertinent areas of concern and formulate plans and programs on investment opportunities for the Halal industry in MIMAROPA,” the RAFC chairperson said.

Charting local and national efforts for 2016

In light of the 2016 Budget Call, officials and staff of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) held a joint planning workshop for the upcoming year with Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) Executive Officers and Coordinators. This was held on February 10-13, 2015 at Plaza del Norte Hotel and Convention Center in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. The undertaking gave way for the harmonization of the agency’s 2016 plan and budget proposal with that of the RAFCs’ under the PCAF’s three core processes, namely, Agriculture and Fisheries Monitoring and Evaluation, Policy Development and Partnership Development. To ensure more effective implementation of agri-fishery projects in the local levels, the budget for the monitoring activities of the AFCs was increased to 5 percent, from P220,200 to P232,000 per year, starting this 2015, the PCAF’s maiden year of operations. The support for the RAFC Desk in all regions was also approved this year to help the AFCs in their consultation and capacity development activities. Through the workshop, the PCAF also facilitated shared understanding among the RAFC executive officers and coordinators on the agency’s mandates, mission, vision and functions.

DA, PCAF conclude island-wide rice consultations; gear up for nat’l summit

The last leg of the island-wide rice consultations was held last January 26-27 in Cebu City. 

The consolidated output of the consultations will be presented during the National Rice Summit.

Rice stakeholders in Visayas discussed strategies towards a sustainable and competitive rice industry during the Visayas-wide Rice Consultation in Cebu City last January 26-27.

Discussions during the consultation focused on seeds and other inputs, labor and mechanization, postharvest, irrigation, marketing and value chain, organic rice farming, credit, guarantee and insurance, farming system and institutional arrangements and delivery system.

Among the recommendations given were subsidized irrigation fees and investment in Small Water Impounding Projects, address issues on watershed degradation, farm mechanization, promotion on the use of organic fertilizers, provision of seed banks to local government units (LGUs) and fertilizer to farmers, assigning a Technical Working Group or focal person per region that will assist farmer applicants in preparing the requirements for the Farm Mechanization Program and rent-to-own program for farm machineries.

Representatives from the concerned Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Offices, local government units, rice farmer-organizations, business sector, Agriculture and Fishery Councils and civil society organizations participated in the undertaking.

Preceding the Visayas-wide rice consultation are the Mindanao and Luzon legs of the undertaking which were held in Davao City and Quezon City December last year.

Organized by the DA and PCAF, the series of island-wide consultations aimed to gather inputs from rice stakeholders all over the country which will be consolidated for presentation and deliberation during the National Rice Summit.

The National Rice Summit aims to provide a venue among the key rice stakeholder to arrive at a consensus on a strategic framework for a competitive and sustainable rice industry by 2017.

It is an offshoot of PCAF Committee on Food Staples Resolution No. 8, series of 2014 which recommended the creation of a Convergence Task Force to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the Philippine rice industry.

YFFTPJ celebrates 30th anniversary, showcases milestones

The YFFTPJ Batch 2014 with their “otosan”, or foster fathers, during the YFFTPJ 30th Anniversary Celebration and National Convention

A counterpart program of the ASEAN Young Farm Leaders Training Program in Japan, the Young Filipino Farmers Training Program in Japan (YFFTPJ) featured its accomplishments and innovations for the past 30 years.

During the program’s 30th Anniversary Celebration and National Convention in Ciudad Christhia Resort in San Mateo, Rizal last March 4-6, around 80 program alumni convened to revitalize their commitments and responsibility as members of the Japan Agriculture Exchange Council Alumni Association of the Philippines (JAECAAP).

Themed “YFFTPJ @ 30: Its Contribution and Impact in Bringing Sustainable Agri-Development to Filipino Farmers,” the celebration also served as a venue to forge commitment from the members of the JAEECAP in the implementation of the YFFTPJ. New officers for the alumni association were also elected.

As Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) Deputy Executive Director Florabelle Uy-Yap spoke to the JAECAAP alumni during their meeting, she urged them to make use of their training not only for themselves but also for their families and the entire country. “Your training is not concluded with the science and skills of farming that you learned, more so, providing you perspective, the values of discipline and respect for the environment and quality of work that your host families instilled in you,” she emphasized.

PCAF former YFFTPJ Program Manager Soledad Bernardo also shared the history of the program, as it had been integral to National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC), one of the precursor agencies of the PCAF, for 24 years.

Meanwhile, JAEC Chairperson Kyoshi Ishii thanked the Philippine government for the 30 years of partnership through the YFFTPJ. “We hope that the challenges they (Filipino young farmers) encountered during their training in Japan made them stronger and better,” he said in Japanese.

Also speaking in Japanese, former Agricultural Attache to Japan Joseph Sison encouraged the YFFTPJ graduates to organize a cooperative so that they can import agricultural machineries without paying taxes. “The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of the Philippines provides tax-free importation of agricultural machineries. Let us take advantage of that law,” he said.

On the other hand, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Deputy Director Renato dela Cruz thanked the Japanese host farmers for equipping the young Filipino farmers with latest agricultural technology and management skills. He also wished that the Japanese host families will continue to extend their generosity to future young farmer trainees.

Selected YFFTPJ graduates also presented their farming innovations as well as the recognitions they received.

Alex Calucag and Jonathan Sony Domingo of Ilocos Norte, Flor Olivar of Camarines Norte, Alex Aborita of Leyte, Joel Ello of Zamboanga del Norte and Benjamin Maputi, Jr. of Bukidnon shared their respective success stories since graduating the program.

Expressing his appreciation on the undertaking, Narciso Repuyo, JAEC alumni, said, “I learned a lot from this gathering. I am thankful that the Department of Agriculture (DA) forged partnership with the Japanese government. The program has been helping a lot of out-of-school youth here in the Philippines.”

The YFFTPJ started in 1986 under ATI and was turned over to the NAFC in 1991. On September 25, 2014, the implementation of the program became a function of the ATI again.

Having managed the program for 24 years, PCAF staff who were part of the field validation and home stay evaluation participated in the said undertaking.

Batch 2014 of the program went back to the Philippines last February 28. They were given a post-evaluation in March to determine the relevance of the training and their responses on the different facets of the program.