The second leg of the consultation workshop for the Philippines’ UNCCD National Reporting, spearheaded by the DA–Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), successfully opened on July 27, 2026, at Citadines Amigo Iloilo for the Visayas Cluster.

This workshop is made possible through the GEF-8 Enabling Activities project, with technical guidance from the UNCCD secretariat. FAO serves as the implementing agency for this GEF-funded project and works hand-in-hand with our national team at BSWM.

Stakeholders and representatives from diverse institutions joined the discussions, including the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Offices VI, VII, VIII, and NIR; the Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council (RAFC) and RAED; DEPDev Region VI; PSA RSSO VI; the DENR Conservation and Development Division (CDD), DENR VI and VIII; State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) such as Aklan State University, Iloilo Science and Technology University, and Central Philippine University; environmental organizations including the Western Visayas Caving Association (WVCA) and Navallasca Farmers Rise Against Hunger and Malnutrition, Inc. (NFRAHMI); UNCCD-accredited CSOs/NGOs such as the HARIBON Foundation; and Provincial Local Government Units (PLGUs).

On the first day, Mr. Lionel Dabbadie, FAO Representative in the Philippines, commended DA–BSWM’s leadership and emphasized the vital role of partners in safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods. He highlighted the enduring importance of healthy soils, linking FAO’s Four Betters: better production, nutrition, environment, and life, with UNCCD’s mission of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). He urged participants to move from analysis to action, mobilizing financing and strengthening institutional coordination for restoration.

The technical sessions featured several key presentations: Engr. Eduardo V. Alberto, OIC–Assistant Director of DA–BSWM, provided an overview of the UNCCD Reporting Cycle and Strategic Objective 1 (SO1); Engr. Evangeline Dacumos, OIC SCMD, discussed Levelling Off: Concept Clarity on Land Degradation; Engr. Bony dela Cruz, Engineer IV, SCMD, outlined the objectives, expected outputs, and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) initiatives, approaches, and technologies; Mr. Baldwin Pine, Senior Science Research Specialist of GSITD, presented the Land Cover Data of the Philippines, national report on soil-related products, and the national land degradation assessment; and Dr. Cesar Garcia, Senior LDN Expert of FAO, highlighted the GEF-8 Umbrella Support Project and trends in land cover and land productivity methodologies, emphasizing the importance of making reports useful not only for the UNCCD but also for national applications.

Workshops and discussions were conducted to support stakeholder decision-making on the country’s Land Cover Change and Land Productivity. The workshop for the Visayas Cluster concludes today, July 29, 2026.

This workshop serves as a platform for reflection: Do we still have viable lands, or are degraded lands beginning to dominate the country? While deserts are not yet apparent in the Philippines, early signs such as declining soil fertility remind us of the urgent need to protect and restore our soils. Awareness alone is not enough; what is more important is taking concrete initiatives and implementing sustained efforts to combat desertification.

Together, let us ensure that our lands continue to provide food, livelihoods, and resilience for generations to come.  | via Vielle Guillermo, Photos taken by Mr. Ryan Benavidez, SCMD

#DA #BSWM #MasaganangAgrikultura #MaunladNaEkonomiya #BagongPilipinas #ParaSaMasaganangBagongPilipinas