Iloilo Seeks Private Investment for Rice Resilience

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo provincial government is calling for private sector partnerships to boost rice production and climate resilience amid declining yields and growing environmental threats.

Speaking on behalf of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., Provincial Administrator Raul Banias underscored the urgency of action during the National Adaptation Plan Investment Forum on March 21 at the SMX Convention Center in Taguig.

Banias cited data from the Provincial Agriculture Office showing that Iloilo’s rice yield declined from 3.79 metric tons per hectare in 2023 to 3.64 metric tons in 2024.

He warned that without adaptation efforts, the province could lose up to 7% of total rice output by 2030, with worst-case scenarios projecting a 25% drop.

Such losses, Banias said, could lead to economic damages reaching as much as PHP11 billion across the rice value chain.

As the fifth-largest rice-producing province in the country and the top producer in Western Visayas, Iloilo’s shrinking output raises significant food security concerns.

To address this, Banias unveiled the SERBISYO Program, or System Enhancement for Rice to Boost, Increase, and Sustain Yield Onwards.

The program aims to raise provincial rice productivity to six metric tons per hectare while improving climate resilience through science-based interventions.

“In scaling climate-resilient seeds, we aim to partner with private input suppliers and innovative agricultural companies to distribute the optimal climate-resilient varieties across the province together with the right crop-scale solutions,” Banias said.

He explained that resilient rice varieties could enhance water use efficiency by 29% and improve yield stability under changing climate conditions.

Banias added that the province also seeks to collaborate with water service providers to construct small-scale reservoirs across 30,000 hectares of rain-fed farmland.

The SERBISYO Program includes developing small-scale water impounding systems and rehabilitating irrigation facilities to improve access for farmers, especially during dry months.

Its five-year phased rollout aims to offset climate-related losses and increase rice production by at least 240,000 metric tons by 2040 through private sector co-investments.

The investment forum, titled “Adaptation in Action: Mobilizing Finance for Climate-Resilient Food and Water Systems,” was co-presented by the United Kingdom Government through the British Embassy Manila.

Other key organizers included the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Climate Change Commission, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of Finance, and Boston Consulting Group.

The forum brought together policymakers, climate finance experts, and development partners to align financing with the Philippine National Adaptation Plan 2030–2050.

UK Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, BSP Assistant Governor Lyn Javier, and Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson Robert Borje were among the dignitaries present.

During breakout sessions, several private companies and banking institutions expressed interest in investing in Iloilo’s rice sector.

Iloilo’s delegation to the forum included officials from the Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Agriculture Office, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, and Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office under the MoRProGRes Team.

Banias emphasized that public-private partnerships are essential to securing Iloilo’s future food supply in the face of climate risks.