Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) Minister Mohammad Yacob and Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Laurel, Jr. during the launching of the three World Bank-funded projects on Nov. 6, 2023 in Quezon City. (Photo courtesy of MAFAR)
COTABATO CITY—To support the agriculture and fishery sector, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) Mohammad Yacob attended the unveiling of three projects of Department of Agriculture (DA) in Quezon City on Nov. 6, to implement climate-resilient practices for enhanced productivity and food security in the country, including the Bangsamoro region.
These projects include the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Project, the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP), and the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Scale-Up Project.
Newly-appointed DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. personally inaugurated the project and considered it a significant milestone in the Philippines’ commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity and food security.
“It is the goal of this administration and all of its agencies and instrumentalities to bring about a comprehensive holistic and sustainable transformation of our nation,” Laurel said.
He added the center of this transformation strategy is the government’s efforts in developing the agricultural sector.
The World Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, Dr. Ndiamé Diop congratulated the DA for its dedication to ensuring food security for all Filipinos and expressed honor in celebrating the launch of the projects that promise a transformative impact on the agricultural sector in the Philippines.
“The projects being launched today align closely with the Bank’s new global mission to help countries eliminate poverty on a livable planet,” Dr Diop said.
Dr. Diop also highlighted the critical role of agriculture and food security in the country’s development plan, emphasizing their significance in accelerating poverty reduction and human capital improvement and emphasized the challenges faced by farmers and fisherfolk due to climate change, stressing the need for increased support in the face of rising vulnerabilities to natural calamities.
Meanwhile, the FishCoRe aims to impact over 1.2 million fisherfolk and coastal communities positively. It will focus on reforming the sector, enhancing fishery management, reducing overfishing, and improving value chains to increase competitiveness.
The MIADP targets improving living conditions for Indigenous Peoples through enhanced infrastructure, access to services, and reduced vulnerability to disasters. It is expected to benefit around 120,000 farmers and fisherfolk in Mindanao.
The PRDP Scale-Up, building on the success of a longstanding rural development project, aims to cover all 82 provinces, providing agri-fishery services and assets. It will directly benefit more than 1 million farmers across the country.
During the event, MAFAR received a certificate from DA-PRDP signifying the proposed concreting of Brgy. Bacayawan-Pagalongan-Mapantao-Dinganun Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in the municipality of Sultan Dumalondong, Lanao del Sur, as eligible for funding under the PRDP Scale-Up amounting to P98,445,000.00 total budget.
The projects launched were aligned with the DA’s strategic priorities focusing on critical infrastructure, post-harvest facilities, and integration of farmers and fisherfolks into value chains and markets. (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO with reports from MAFAR)
