Marcos urges ASEAN: Craft 10-year food security roadmap

TOKYO – President Marcos yesterday urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan to craft a 10-year framework on climate action and agricultural technologies as he vowed to continue supporting measures that would promote economic prosperity and inclusivity in the region.

“Inasmuch as food security is one of my administration’s top priorities, I encourage new agricultural technologies and the crafting of a climate change-resilient, sustainable, inclusive and people-centered ASEAN-Japan Strategic Economic Cooperation Roadmap beyond 2025 for the next 10 years,” Marcos said during the third session of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo.

“Sustainable energy security is a twin priority of clean energy to realize a low-carbon region and address climate change. The Philippines encourages ASEAN member states and Japan to undertake novel joint ventures to reduce carbon emissions, promote renewable energy, and enhance environmental sustainability,” he added.

Marcos recalled that a Loss and Damage Fund was approved during the recently concluded COP 28 or the 28th session of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai.

In a separate session, Marcos urged Japan to support efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality to reduce global warming’s effects.

“We also call for climate action as we promote biodiversity management, green technologies and circular economy, and the blue economy has also become an important part of that formula,” he said.

Marcos, who served as agriculture secretary for more than a year, thanked Japan for supporting the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve, projects under the ASEAN Food Security Information System and the ASEAN-Japan International Cooperation Agency Food Value Chain Development Project.

“We also look forward to future cooperation towards enhancing resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems through new technologies and innovation to ensure regional food security and the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Guidelines for Sustainable Agriculture,” he added.

Meanwhile, Marcos pushed for the development of physical connectivity and digital infrastructure, describing them as “foundations for sustainable and inclusive economic growth, economic integration, competitiveness and resilience.”

“ASEAN and Japan must also expand digital literacy to foster innovation and inclusivity and facilitate the digital transformation of our economies. That has erased the so-called digital gap,” Marcos said.

He also expressed interest in partnering with Japan and other countries to increase the Philippines’ share in the global creative industries market.

He noted that the market, estimated at $2.6 trillion in 2022, is projected to reach up to 3.4 trillion in 2028.

Japan is one of ASEAN’s most important comprehensive strategic dialogue partners, its fourth largest trading partner and fourth biggest source of foreign direct investments.

Right direction

The President’s attendance at the ASEAN-Japan Summit where he underscored his administration’s focus on food security is a step in the right direction, according to Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“President Marcos’ focus on food security at the ASEAN-Japan Summit sends a clear message: the well-being of Filipino families is a top priority. It is an implication for a more stable food supply and better economic opportunities for Filipinos,” he said.

Romualdez earlier disclosed that Congress earmarked funds under the P5.768-trillion 2024 national budget to implement a revolutionary program that would drive down the price of good quality rice by almost half for seven million families or 28 million Filipinos.

Initially dubbed Bagong Pilipinas’ Community Assistance and Rice Discount, the new program was formulated in partnership with Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian and local government units.