The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM) participated in the Second Global Dialogue on Sustainable Rice Transformation in the context of the GEF8 Food Systems Integrated Program (FSIP) and the GEF7 Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration (FOLUR) held on June 22-23, 2026, in Bali, Indonesia.
The event brought together global policymakers, researchers, regional and international finance institutions, and representatives from 12 participating countries. The dialogue aimed to strengthen synergies among FSIP and FOLUR rice countries to foster mutual learning and collaboration, discuss common national and regional challenges and priorities, and identify innovative solutions for the sustainable transformation of rice systems.
DA-BSWM was represented by Engr. Bony P. Dela Cruz, Engineer IV of the Soil Conservation and Management Division (SCMD). As part of his participation, he presented the country’s FSIP Project entitled “Transforming Agricultural Landscapes in Island Ecosystems and Key Biodiversity Areas towards Sustainable Food Systems and Climate-Resilient Communities.” The Global Environment Facility approved this project under the 8th Cycle Program (GEF-8), with the DA-BSWM as the lead implementing agency. The project was highly praised by the participants for its strong gender equality and social inclusion approach, which recognizes women’s roles, youth potential, and indigenous knowledge in rice-based systems.
Following the Global Meeting, participants joined the workshop on “Frontier Technologies for Low-Emissions Rice and Livestock Systems” from June 24-26, 2026, At this workshop, Engr. Dela Cruz joined other Philippine Delegates, namely: Director Agnes Catherine Miranda of the DA-Climate Resilient Agricultural Office (DA-CRAO), Mr. Karlo Paolo of the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI), and Ms. Lany Rebagay, Deputy Secretary General, Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA).
Main discussions in the workshop highlighted frontier emissions-reduction technologies in rice and livestock systems, evaluating their scalability, trade-offs, and requirements for smallholder adoption. Experts emphasized the need to build a credible, unified MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) architecture that balances national data systems without overburdening farmers. The workshop also featured the significant roles of public-private blended finance, de-risking mechanisms, and regional financial institutions in structuring investable packages.
The event was jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), and the Mekong Institute (MI) under the ASEAN Climate Resilience Network (CRN). | via. Engr. Bony P. Dela Cruz, SCMD
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