Villar: Climate change adaptation measures needed for food security

Senatorial candidate and Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate and Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar has called for the full implementation of laws to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture and the environment to ensure food security in the country.

Speaking at a campaign sortie in the Bicol region, Villar underscored that the Philippines was among the early adopters of climate change policies, integrating environmental concerns into legislation as early as the 1990s.

“Actually, the Philippines, surprisingly enough, was one of the pioneers in integrating climate change into our laws. So, as early as 1991 or 1997, there were laws that already mandated the Department of Agriculture and other departments to input and consider climate change and weather disturbances in agriculture programs,” Villar said.

However, she pointed out that while legislation has been in place for decades, the challenge remains in the proper implementation and relevance to the evolving climate landscape.

“One of the things that we should ensure is the proper implementation of laws and perhaps review some of the laws to make sure that they are relevant to the times,” she added.

Involvement of local government

During her media interview, Villar also emphasized the need to integrate national government policies with localized climate adaptation measures. She stressed that efforts should align with the capacities and needs of local government units to enhance the country’s resilience to climate-related challenges.

She cited the Agri-Agrarian Reform Credit Law, which mandates banks to allocate 25 percent of their lending portfolio to agribusinesses or agricultural beneficiaries. Villar said such policies must be fully enforced to support farmers and agricultural stakeholders.

Adopting innovations for resilience

Villar also highlighted the importance of adopting innovative agricultural practices to improve food security and climate resilience.

“There is a lot of legislation on this that we need to make sure is properly implemented. There are also a lot of trends and innovations around the world right now that we can probably apply to our local agricultural industry, like intercropping and predictive technologies to determine which crops should be planted depending on the season or temperature,” she explained.

She stressed that staying up to date with technology and advancements in agriculture is crucial in mitigating climate risks.

“By applying these innovations, we can become more prepared and resilient to climate change and the natural disasters that come with it,” Villar said.

The issue of climate change adaptation in agriculture continues to be a key topic among candidates in the upcoming elections, particularly in regions like Bicol, which is frequently affected by typhoons and extreme weather conditions.