PHILIPPINES: Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo received newly-appointed Philippine Country Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Mr. Lionel Henri Valentin at the Department of Foreign Affairs on 07 February 2023. Mr. Dabbadie assumed his role at FAO on 31 January 2023.
“We consider FAO an important ally in our country’s aim to attain food security and improve nutrition,” said Secretary Manalo. He emphasized how food security is among the country’s top priorities and how it underpins all pillars of the recently launched Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
The Secretary also commended Mr. Dabbadie’s extensive background in aquaculture and fisheries, mentioning the potential of the sector in advancing the country’s food security agenda. Apart from publishing more than 50 scientific and technical publications in aquaculture, Mr. Dabbadie led the development of a program to develop guidelines for sustainable aquaculture.
“There are plenty of opportunities to highlight the Philippines’ expertise in aquaculture,” said Mr. Dabbadie, whose familiarity with the country’s fisheries and aquaculture sector are drawn from his previous collaboration with the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) on various research projects. His work with BFAR precede his stints as Senior Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer of FAO in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) then FAO Philippines Country Representative.
Secretary Manalo urged Mr. Dabbadie to work closely with the rest of the United Nations Country Team as well as all relevant Philippine government agencies to make sure that FAO’s next Country Programming Framework (CPF) supports the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and complements the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The CPF is a blueprint for the development cooperation between the Philippines and FAO just as the UNSDCF guides the engagements between the country and the UN Country Team. These documents identify the specific development areas where FAO and the UN’s support are needed the most.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that focuses on food security and nutrition. The Philippines and FAO share a long history of partnership. The Philippines is a founding member of the organization and has contributed significantly towards shaping the organization’s agenda since 1945. FAO established its country office in the Philippines in 1978 and has since supported the government’s efforts to develop the agriculture sector through technical assistance, capacity building, and policy advice.
Source: https://dfa.gov.ph/dfa-news/dfa-releasesupdate/31764-secretary-manalo-meets-fao-philippine-country-representative, 9 February 2023.