The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), successfully conducted an Ad Hoc Mission for the Adapting Philippine Agriculture (APA) to Climate Change Project in Hungduan, Ifugao on February 5, 2026.

The mission team, headed by Frederic Wiltmann,GCF Sub-Regional Coordinator and Ivan Lawrence White,GCF Task Manager together with Lionel Dabbadie, FAO Representative for the Philippines and Tshencho Dorji, International CIS Advisor were warmly welcomed by Municipal Mayor Casan P. Dumulag and Municipal Agriculturist Engr. Jonathan T. Wacoy.

The visit served as a vital learning and validation exercise for the GCF, the primary funding institution, as part of the APA Project’s seven-year mandate (2024–2030) to transform the livelihoods of over 1.25 million Filipino farmers through low-emission technologies and enhanced climate risk management.

During the mission, the team engaged in Focused Group Discussions with the Local Government Unit of Hungduan and representatives from target Farmers Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs), in which a majority of women actively participated. Mission leaders emphasized that a primary objective is to integrate interventions according to community needs. By listening to the knowledge of what the people have been doing, the Project aims to turn local practices into a source of inspiration for the future as it scales up to serve 100 municipalities nationwide.

The delegation also visited local rice fields to observe the integration of loach (yu-yu) within traditional pond systems. Farmers shared real-world climate impacts, such as the need to shift cropping calendars and the integration of high-value crops and livestock into traditional rice farming. However, they raised significant concerns regarding the lack of effective mitigation for pests like giant earthworms, “kiwet” (eel), and invasive shells, which continue to affect yields.

In response, the mission team committed to strengthen the Project’s Climate Information System to ensure farmers have reliable access to critical climate data for informed decision-making. Other key institutional partners in attendance included DOST-PAGASA, the Department of Finance (DOF), the Office of the Provincial Governor, and the Ifugao State University (IFSU).//Leny D. Mendoza

DA-CAR Press Release No. 26-07