British gov't partners with Iloilo to boost rice industry resiliency
By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY – The British government, through the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office of the British Embassy in Manila, has partnered with the Iloilo provincial government to boost the resiliency of the rice industry and ease the negative impact of climate change.
BRITISH Economic and Climate Counselor Lloyd Cameron and Gov. Arthur ‘Toto’ Defensor Jr. inked a partnership to boost the resiliency of the rice industry and ease the impact of climate change in Iloilo province. (Iloilo Capitol PIO)
Lloyd Cameron, economic and climate counselor of the British Embassy in Manila, inked an agreement with Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr.
“We want to tell Iloilo’s story globally and showcase this pioneering work of how adaptation is done in agriculture to drive food security, drive health, and drive investment,” said Cameron.
Iloilo is among the top rice producers in the country and was not spared from the El Niño phenomenon last year.
“With this partnership, maybe we will be No. 2 rice-producing province in the country,” Defensor said.
Iloilo is one of the two pilot provinces identified for the British-led initiative of seeking private sector investments to boost resilient food and water systems.
Provincial Administrator Raul Banias joined the Adaptation Investment Forum co-organized by the British Embassy in Manila and the Boston Consulting Group.
Also present at the signing of the agreement were Vice Gov. Lee Ann Debuque, Provincial Planning and Development Officer Valme Lujan, Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Ildefonso Toledo, Provincial Environmental Officer Cesar Emmanuelle Buyco Jr., Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Cornelio Salinas, Provincial Engineer Romeo Andig, and Provincial Cooperatives Development Officer Arturo Cangrejo.