(Track 4: Country Deep-Dive (Philippines and India) and Plant Health Showcase)
The session aims to build a shared understanding of the key constraints in the Philippine food system and to identify a focused set of priority reforms and investments, including 3–5 critical bottlenecks and the roles of public, private, and development actors. It will produce a brief synthesis of agreed priorities and next steps to strengthen cross‑sector alignment and guide policy refinement, resource mobilization, and integration into ongoing agrifood system transformation efforts.
Philippine Investment on Sustainable and Inclusive Agrifood Systems
Opening Remarks
Andrew Jeffries, Country Director, Philippines Country Office, Southeast Asia Region, ADB
Keynote
Jerome Oliveros, Undersecretary, Department of Agriculture, Republic of the Philippines
The Philippine Hand-in-Hand National Investment Fora 2026
The Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HIH) assists member nations to accelerate agrifood transformation. The Philippine government prioritized HIH agrifood investments highlighted as socio-economic drivers that aim to reduce poverty and improve food security in line with government objectives. Development of the agri-fishery sector through investments will have a direct beneficial economic effect on farmers and fisherfolks in the sustainable development of the agrifood system leaving no one behind.
The first ever Hand-in-Hand National Investment Forum (NIF) is an investment platform that aims to gather all related agriculture and fishery stakeholders and discuss investment pathways that will help augment the needs of the country’s agrifood systems. These needs are based on financial, technical, administrative, and other aspects that may help speed up agrifood systems development.
- The Bangsamoro Investment Dialogues and roundtable discussions
Abunawas Maslamama, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Republic of the Philippines - The first edition of the National Investment Forum
Arnel de Mesa, Assistant Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Republic of the Philippines
Scene‑Setting Input
“State of the Philippine Food System: Challenges and Emerging Pathways”
Presenter:
Asis Perez, Undersecretary, Department of Agriculture, Philippines
Panel Discussion 1
Theme: From Climate Exposure to Productive Resilience – What Must Change at Scale?
Co-moderators:
Xiaoruo Jiang
Ruth Georget (FAO)
- Resilient and climate‑smart agriculture
Andre Arriaza, Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization - Sub-national food systems and nutrition
Julia Gubat, Department Science and Technology - Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) - Water management & irrigation
Diosdado Manalus, Division Chief, Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), DA - Digital agriculture
Mike Maté, General Partner, KickStart - Financing and farmer organizations
Lynette V. Ortiz, President and CEO, Landbank - Carl Chung, Deputy Head, Bounty Fresh
Panel Discussion 2
Theme: Modernizing Agricultural Logistics – Fixing the Physical and Regulatory Backbone
- Cold chain infrastructure gaps and last-mile delivery
Jaume Mas Vilella, Associate Director at IDOM and Project Director of the Food Logistics Master Plan for the Philippines - Inter-island transport and port efficiency
Suharto Ambolodto, Member of the Parliament – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) - Post-harvest storage and handling systems
Rodelio G. Idago, Chief Science Research Specialist/Scientist I, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), DA - Movement permits and regulatory bottlenecks
Marbida L. Marbida, Director of Better Regulations Office, Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) - Digital supply chain tracking and data systems
Pierre Carlo Curay, President, Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP) - Financing models for logistics infrastructure
Michael O. de Jesus, President and CEO, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)
Panel Discussion 3
Theme: Competitive and Nutrition-Sensitive Value Chains – Upgrading Economic and Dietary Value
- Agro-processing and product upgrading
Ruben L. See, President, Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization (PHILFOODEX) - Business climate and regulatory predictability
Hernando B. Delizo, Director for Health and Wellness, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) - Food safety systems and quality standards
Gari Pellinor U. Hernandez, Officer-in-Charge, Standard Research Division, Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) - Trade facilitation and market access
Rosemarie P. Selisana, Manager of Export Facilitation Department, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) - Nutrition-sensitive product innovation
Lynette Neufeld, ESN Director, FAO
Discussion
Involve from AIT for ideas on interactive
