QUEZON CITY, Philippines – SEARCA facilitated the First Philippine National Consultative Meeting for the ASEAN Network on Promoting Climate Resilience of Rice and Other Crops on 17 February 2014 at the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR). The consultative meeting brought together representatives from DA with DA-BAR as the representative of the Philippines in the ASEAN Technical Working Group in Agriculture and Research Development (ATWGARD). Other participants who attended this activity included representatives from the DA-Corn Program, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Philippine Statistics Authority-Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (PSA-BAS), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), and the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
Dr. Teodoro S. Solsoloy, Assistant Director of DA-BAR and ATWGARD focal person for the Philippines, provided the participants with a brief background of the study. Dr. Felino Lansigan, Agricultural Value Chain/Climate Resilience Expert cum Team Leader, and Dr. Romeo Labios, National Focal Person, facilitated the workshop leading to the identification of good practice case studies for climate adaptation of rice and corn that can be upscaled into meaningful adaptation responses across the ASEAN region.
SEARCA Staff who provided the necessary technical assistance in the activity include Mr. Alvin G. Tallada, Project Management Associate; Ms. Minette M. Felismino, Researcher; and Mr. Jerrel Edric B. Mallari, Administrative Assistant. (Minette M. Felismino)