DA launches Strengthening Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) Project with SEARCA and UPLBFI

3 May 2015

[i]Left Photo:[/i] Dir. Alicia Ilaga, Director for DA Systems-wide Climate Change Office (DA-SWCCO), discusses how AMIA defines the Department of Agriculture’s national framework in addressing climate change in agriculture. [br][br] [i]Right Photo:[/i] Dr. Maria Celeste H. Cadiz, SEARCA Program Head for Knowledge Management, contributes in the workshop discussion.

QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños Foundation, Inc. (UPLBFI), has recently launched the project Strengthening Implementation of Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) through an Inception Meeting on 24 April 2015 at the DA Agricultural Training Institute in Quezon City.

Dir. Alicia Ilaga, Director for DA Systems-Wide Climate Change Office (SWCCO), explained that AMIA defines DA’s national framework in addressing climate change in agriculture and serves as the umbrella program covering climate change across all programs, functions, and agencies at DA. AMIA also addresses the key considerations in dealing with climate change in agriculture.

Dir. Ilaga also mentioned that AMIA is one of the seven systems-wide mainstreaming programs of DA which should mainstream at both the strategic and operational level across agencies and programs systems-wide. This means transforming systems, adjusting development programs/projects, and capacitating people to achieve efficiency at all levels of implementation. AMIA would likewise develop a culture of excellence and respect to climate change in government services in agriculture.

Mr. Johnson Mercader, Project Team Leader, expressed his appreciation for the presentation of Dir. Ilaga in providing the consultants with DA’s insights on and expectations from the AMIA Project. Other members of the Project Team present during the Inception Meeting include Dr. Daylinda Cabanilla, Dr. Esteban Godilano, Dr. Saturnina Halos, Dr. Tolentino Moya, and Dr. Eliseo Ponce. Ms. Dorcas V. Trinidad, Project Coordinator, represented UPLBFI.

SEARCA was represented by Dr. Maria Celeste H. Cadiz, Program Head, and Ms. Rosario Bantayan, Program Specialist, both of the Knowledge Management Department; and Dr. Lope B. Santos III, Program Specialist and Officer-In-Charge; Ms. Nancy M. Landicho-de Leon, Program Specialist; and Ms. Imelda L. Batangantang, Program Associate, all of the Project Development and Technical Services.