The Iloilo provincial government is seeking private sector support to increase its rice production and ensure the sustainability and resilience of the province’s agricultural sector.
On behalf of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., Provincial Administrator Raul Banias presented the provincial government’s SERBISYO Program or a System Enhancement for Rice to Boost, Increase and Sustain Yield Onwards during the National Adaptation Plan Investment Forum on March 21, 2025 at the SMX Convention Center in Taguig.
The SERBISYO program aims to increase Iloilo’s rice production to six (6) metric tons per hectare through the use of climate-resilient and high-yielding rice varieties as well as the development of small-scale reservoirs and rehabilitation of existing irrigation projects to improve water supply.
Banias underscored the need for a solution to stimulate agricultural efficiency in the province, noting the impending risk in Iloilo’s rice production due to the worsening effects of dry spells and heavy precipitation.
Data from the Provincial Agriculture Office showed a decrease in Iloilo’s annual rice production – from 3.79 metric tons per hectare in 2023 to 3.64 metric tons per hectare in 2024.
This poses a risk in food security not just in Iloilo but the whole Western Visayas, with Iloilo serving as the rice granary in the region and the 5th largest rice producing province in the country.
“An average of 7% of total rice production could be lost as early as 2030. On some of the worst years, this could go up to 25%. A cost of inaction worth P11 billion is at risk across the value chain of rice…Now these numbers are what will happen if we don’t do anything,” the provincial administrator said.
𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂-𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏
Through the private sector support, the provincial government expects the SERBISYO Program to not only address the expected losses but to exceed the losses due to climate change by at least 240,000 tons by 2040.
Bania said the provincial government wants to partner with input manufacturers and distributors as well as irrigation companies to scale up rice production efficiency and water sustainability.
“In scaling climate-resilient seeds, we aim to partner with private input suppliers and innovative agricultural companies to distribute the optimal climate-resilient varieties across the province together with the right crop-scale solutions. We aim to partner with water service providers to establish small-scale reservoirs across 30,000 hectares of land in Iloilo to address the water challenges of rain-fed farms,” he said.
Resilient varieties also help conserve water, thus deploying them would enhance water use efficiency by 29 percent.
The SERBISYO Program will be implemented in phases with its full implementation to be completed in five years.
“We invite our partners to come onboard our SERBISYO Program,” Banias said.
𝐀𝐃𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
The investment forum dubbed “Adaptation in Action: Mobilizing Finance for Climate-Resilient Food and Water Systems” was co-presented by the UK Government through the British Embassy Manila, Boston Consulting Group, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Climate Change Commission, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and the Department of Finance.
It gathered stakeholders across the finance value chain to support local government units with their climate adaptation initiatives that align with the Philippine National Adaptation Plan 2030-2050.
The event was graced by His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Assistant Governor for Policy and Specialized Supervision Sub-Sector AG Lyn Javier, and Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Secretary Robert Borje, among others.
Banias was joined by the MoRProGRes ILOILO Team from the Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Agriculture Office, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and Public Information and Community Affairs Office.
During the breakout session, various private companies and banking institutions have signified their interest in investing in the province’s rice sector.
(Capitol News)
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