The Philippines ranked 2nd Best Delegation among 32 countries and some international organizations in the ninth edition of the Social Security Summer Academy held from 16 to 27 September 2019 in Turin, Italy.

The academy, conducted by the Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITC-ILO), trained key persons to develop comprehensive and efficient national social protection systems through the diversified and need-driven curriculum of 20 elective courses and 10 plenary sessions.

The Philippine delegation was represented by Mr. Ulysses Lustria, Jr. of the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD), Ms. Hannah Giray-Carcido of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Policy Development and Planning Bureau (PDPB), and Ms. Ruth Honculada-Georget of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

As a program designed to help the country’s poor farmers and fisherfolk and considered as a social protection project, the DA SAAD took part in the training. Among 84 participants, DA SAAD Planning and Monitoring Head Mr. Lustria was hailed as the top 2 student based on exams’ results.

 

SAAD and convergence with social protection agencies and other stakeholders

The DA SAAD has already initiated convergence activities with social protection agencies such as the DSWD.  It has also worked with SUCs and the private sector.

The academy emphasized that linking agricultural projects, such as the SAAD Program, with other social protection interventions, increase the livelihood of project success.

Coherent and combined social protection and agriculture interventions support the reduction of poverty and hunger.

 

Turin Action Plan

During the training, the Philippine delegation met with Ms. Natalia Winder Rossi, Senior Social Protection Officer and Social Protection Team Leader of the FAO.

A proposed Turin Action Plan was formulated wherein the DA shall be involved in various activities.  One activity is the review of the draft Social Protection Operation Framework (SPOF) Plan and M&E Results Framework of the Philippines.  The SAAD is also included in the said draft.

There is also interest in providing technical support to DA on mitigating the impact of the Rice Tariffication Act (RTA) among small farmers.

Meanwhile, FAO supported the conduct of an evaluation study of the SAAD Program. Preparatory activities are already being done. ###

 

Writer: Jhomai Canlas, SAAD Public Relations and Communications Officer