Agriculture and Fisheries is one of the sectors included in the Philippine Development Plan for 2011-2016.
This sector being the provider of food and vital raw materials for the rest of the economy should be
competitive and sustainable. Two out of the three goals in order to achieve a competitive, sustainable and
technology-based agriculture and fisheries sector are the following:
“2.3.1. Improved security and increased rural incomes
One of the programs under this goal that is related to climate change is the establishment of climate resilient
agriculture infrastructure through enhanced technical design of irrigation and drainage systems and
facilities, farm-to-market roads (FMRs), postharvest facilities (PHF), trading posts, among others
2.3.2.. Increased sector resilience to climate change risks
In order to adapt to the threats of climate change and extreme weather events in the agriculture and fisheries
sector, sound scientific advice is needed regarding appropriate crop varieties, cropping patterns, and
climate-vulnerable structures, including irrigation systems. The following are the strategies in order to
achieve the goal in increasing resilience to climate change risks:
2.3.2.1. Reduce climate change-related risks and the vulnerability of natural ecosystems and
biodiversity through ecosystem-based management approaches, conservation efforts, and sustainable
environment and natural resources-based economic endeavors such as agri-ecotourism
2.3.2.2. Increase the resilience of agriculture communities through the development of climate changesensitive technologies, establishment of climate-resilient agricultural infrastructure and climateresponsive food production systems and provision of support services to the most vulnerable
communities
2.3.2.3. Incorporate natural hazards and climate risk in the agricultural land use plan or the
Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP)
2.3.2.4.Strengthen the capacity of communities to respond effectively to climate risks and natural
hazards
2.3.2.5. Continue vulnerability and adaptation assessments especially in food production areas”
2.4. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Interventions on Climate Change Adaptation and
Mitigation
The Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) are not spared from the effect of the climate change. “It was
estimated that more or less 1M ARBs will be hit by climate change. The department have predicted the
following provinces, where most of their beneficiaries reside, to be flood-prone: Pangasinan, Pampanga,
Masbate and Leyte. On the other hand, the following provinces are predicted to be landslide-prone: Benguet,
Zambales, Nueva Vizcaya, Samar and Pangasinan. To minimize or completely eliminate the impacts of
climate change, DAR formulated mitigation and adaptation interventions”.
For their climate change adaptation, DAR will partner with various climate change implementing agencies
and institutions for training in climate change concepts and adaptation measures. There is also an “on-going
review and revision of Agrarian Reform Communities (ARC) Development Plans incorporating climate
change adaptation and mitigation. Under this, the following will be conducted: a.) development of tools for
assessment and planning; b.) conduct of consultation workshops. Another intervention is development of
the Crop-based Farmer Field School Curriculum and extension in coordination with farmer groups. Soil
and Water Conservation Technologies will also be introduced. One of the technologies to be introduced is
the Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT). Organic Vegetable Growing is under this and as of
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