The Philippines received a $1-million technical grant from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said over the weekend.
It said the technical cooperation funding would be used to implement various projects aimed at improving food production capabilities.
“We will make it a point to fast track the preparation process to ensure that our agricultural sector can benefit from this investment, especially the assistance intended for areas heavily damaged by El Nino, which is a key priority of the DA Secretary,” said DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa.
The FAO grant is about 40 percent higher than the $594,000 proposed by the DA. The final allocation of $1 million signifies a significant investment in strengthening the Philippines’ agri-fisheries sector, it said.
FAO intends to execute the technical cooperation projects with a focus on creating a more efficient and sustainable food production chain.
The projects will provide additional support to regions affected by El Nino, helping communities recover and build resilience against future climate challenges, in addition to promoting investments in aquaculture and seaweed production.
The collaboration between the DA and FAO strengthens their existing partnership in tackling the challenges faced by the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
It said the grant is a potential springboard for securing further resources from other international organizations.