Contacts
In Manila: Leonora Aquino-Gonzales (632) 917-3003, lgonzales@worldbank.org;
Anissa Tria (632) 917-3013, atria2@worldbank.org
In Washington: Mohamad Al-Arief (202) 458-5964, malarief@worldbank.org MANILA, December 6, 2007 – The latest World Development Report (WDR), “Agriculture for Development”, calls for greater, better and higher quality investments in agriculture in the Philippines and in other developing countries. It states that if the goal of halving extreme hunger and poverty by 2015 will be realized, agriculture must be placed at the center of the development agenda. Derek Byerlee, co-director of the WDR Team, said, “The Philippines is no exception in terms of the agricultural sector’s high potentials for growth and poverty reduction, but it may take some adjustments in the overall rural and agricultural development strategy for these potentials to be realized.” Luc Christiaensen, a co-author of the report, added: “For transforming and urbanizing countries like the Philippines, a three-pronged comprehensive approach is suggested focused on: 1) strengthening agricultural productivity by going beyond the green revolution to pro-poor growth in high value crops and sustainable agriculture, 2) strengthening the rural off-farm pathways out of poverty, and 3) investing in poor area development programs such as Mindanao comprising agriculture development, migration and safety nets.” Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla of the Department of Agriculture (DA) welcomed the 2008 WDR’s focus on investments in agriculture: "The 2008 WDR validates the Department of Agriculture's tack in attracting more investments for agriculture and fisheries. Our fundamental challenge is how to grow faster at higher and sustainable levels to bring about broad-based growth that will uplift the lives of the Filipinos through agriculture. To meet this challenge, agriculture must be supported to become an attractive investment area by minimizing the risks and maximizing returns from agriculture activities.” National Economic and Development Agency (NEDA) Deputy Director General Rolando Tungpalan noted the timeliness of the release of the 2008 WDR given the current updating of the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) for 2008-2010, particularly for the Agribusiness and Green Philippines Chapters. "The Philippines recognizes the vital role of agriculture and rural development in reducing poverty and combating hunger. The Report affirms the sustained relevance of sector policies and strategies being pursued under the MTPDP." The 2008 WDR stresses the need to design policies and processes suited to national economic and social conditions, mobilize political support, and improve governance in agriculture. Maryse Gautier, World Bank Philippines Acting Country Director, called for a shift to high value agriculture with export potential to help increase incomes from agriculture, where more than 40 percent of the Philippine labor force is employed, but which contributes only 14 percent of national output. But, she added, “In addition to supporting high-value agriculture, better support systems will be necessary to help workers in agriculture and fisheries to benefit much more.” In spite of its declining share of national incomes and employment in the Asia and Pacific region, agriculture is still indispensable to, and can potentially be the most effective instrument for, inclusive growth and poverty alleviation, the World Bank says. The World Bank’s agriculture commitments in the Philippines in FY07 reached $3.1 billion. Its lending program for rural development in the country includes the $60 million Diversified Farm Income and Market Development Project (DFIMDP), the $84 million Second Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP2), the $50 million Second Agrarian Reform Community Development Project (ARCDP2), the $150 million Third Rural Finance Project (RF3), the $33.6 million ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP), the $19 million Second Land Administration and Management Project, and the $5 million Laguna de Bay Institutional Strengthening and Community Participation Project (LISCOP), among others. On Friday, December 7 from 9 AM to 12 noon, Mr. Byerlee and Mr. Christiaensen will present the highlights of the Report in a video conference to be participated in by Government officials from the Department of Agriculture and the National Economic and Development Agency and representatives from the business sector, civil society, and the international partners community. The video conference will emanate from the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao, and will be beamed to Silliman University in Dumaguete City, St. Louis University in Baguio City, and the World Bank office in Manila. ### Visit http://www.worldbank.org/wdr2008to download a copy of the World Development Report 2008 |
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