Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic - Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Food Systems and Adaptive Measures Practiced in Metro Manila - UN ...
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Policy Brief Series Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Food Systems and Adaptive Measures Practiced in Metro Manila August 2021
Policy Brief Series
About this publication
Urban Food Systems
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
the United Nations Development Programme, the World
Food Programme, and the International Fund for Agricultural
Development conducted a joint research on “Assessing the
Impact of COVID-19 on Food Systems and Adaptive Measures
and the Pandemic
Practiced in Metro Manila.” This research aims to support
the implementation of the Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on
Framework which guides the engagement of the United
Nations in the Philippines with government and development Food Systems and Adaptive Measures
partners in reinforcing efforts in the Philippines to recover
from the COVID-19 crisis and stay firmly on the path towards
Practiced in Metro Manila
achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This synthesis
report and policy brief presents the key findings from the
research assessment covering impact experiences, emerging
adaptive practices and evidence base of transformation of
Metro Manila’s food systems amid the COVID-19 crisis. It August 2021
provides recommendations to address challenges and issues
to facilitate holistic and robust transformations. A Joint Research Project by the
About the cover
People lining up for food items at the Maginhawa Community
Pantry in Quezon City. The COVID-19 pandemic has kindled
the Filipinos’ spirit of bayanihan expressed through the many
community pantries that have sprung across the country as
a volunteer-led and community-based mitigation measure
against hunger and food insecurity during the crisis. Photo ©
UNDP/Jilson Tiu
Table of Contents
1 3 5
Executive Key Findings Impact dynamics on
Summary selected agrifood
commodity value chains
12 14 19
Impact on food systems Emerging trends and Issues and gaps in food
actors and stakeholders adaptive practices systems development
22 30
Policy Recommendations Areas for United
Nations Support
Foreword Executive Summary
COVID-19 is the latest addition to the and the International Fund for Agricultural Development
COVID-19 has caused severe list of crises causing severe disruptions
(IFAD) indicates that the effects of the COVID-19
pandemic on the agrifood system of the Philippines
disruptions to global food systems, to global food systems and reversing have created new vulnerabilities and long-term issues.2
reversing years of developmental gains years of developmental gains in the Surveys conducted by the National Economic and
in the agrifood and fisheries sector. agrifood and fisheries sector. Development Authority showed that the agriculture
sector lost an estimated PhP94.3 million (about $1.9
million) from unsold produce from key producing
In the Philippines, the magnitude of impacts regions supplying most of the food requirements of
has revealed itself in loss of jobs and incomes, As the pandemic unfolds, the magnitude of impacts major demand centers, and an overall loss across
unforeseeable shocks to the economy, and has revealed itself in loss of jobs and incomes, agriculture, industry and service sectors amounting to
widespread increases in food insecurity affecting unforeseeable shocks to the economy, and PhP1.1 billion (around $21.8 million), or about 5.6 per
the vulnerable. widespread increases in food insecurity affecting cent of the country’s gross domestic product.3
the vulnerable. It has magnified the risks and forced
To assess how the impacts manifest across the food pressures that are considerable and have significant Metro Manila, or officially the National Capital Region
systems in Metro Manila, the Food and Agriculture implications to the activities and roles of food supply (NCR), the most densely populated region in the
Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United chain actors, stakeholders, and governments alike. country where more than 10 per cent of the population
Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the reside, has become the hotspot of the COVID-19
World Food Programme (WFP), and the International In the Philippines, around 109 million people are pandemic in the Philippines, with more than 41 per
Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) jontly at risk, with 26 per cent that rely on agriculture for cent of total cases in March 2021.4 NCR is the seat of
undertook the research on Assessing the Impact of livelihoods and 47.4 per cent urban food consumers government and the largest local food market worth
COVID-19 on Food Systems and Adaptive Measures Country Team (UNCT) in 2020, is our blueprint for that heavily depend on rural and peri-urban produce.1 $9.3 billion every year, accounting for 18.5 per cent of
Practiced in Metro Manila. This research covered supporting the country to recover from the pandemic, A rapid assessment conducted jointly by the Food and the total annual food expense of the country.5 Majority
impact experiences, emerging adaptive practices and while keeping the country on track to achieve the Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) of the urban population (60 per cent) is engaged in
evidence base of transformation of Metro Manila’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in a manner
food systems amid the COVID-19 crisis. that leaves no one behind.
This synthesis report and policy brief presents the key I am grateful to the Development Coordination 1
World Bank. “Population Estimates and Projections” (2021). Available at https://datacatalog. worldbank.org/dataset/population-
findings from this research assessment and provides Office (DCO) for its financial support that made this estimates-and-projections.(accessed on 1 March 2021).
recommendations to address challenges and issues research possible. 2
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rapid Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 on Food Supply Chains in the
to facilitate holistic and robust transformations. Philippines (2021). Available at http://www.fao.org/documents/ card/en/c/cb2622en/.
Thank you. 3
Philippines, National Economic and Development Authority-Inter-Agency Task Force Technical Working Group for Anticipatory and
These recommendations will also inform the Forward Planning. “We recover as one’ report details road to new normal,” (29 May 2020). Available at http://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-
implementation of the United Nations’ updated content/uploads/2020/05/We-Recover- As-One.pdf
Cooperation Framework with the Philippines—the 4
Philippines, Department of Health. COVID-19 Tracker. Updates on Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Nationwide Cases (2021).
Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework for Gustavo Gonzalez Available at https://doh.gov.ph/2019-nCoV. (accessed 3 March 2021).
COVID-19 Recovery in the Philippines (SEPF). The Resident Coordinator 5
Philippine Statistics Authority. OpenSTAT, Demographic and Social Statistics (2021). Available at https://openstat.psa.gov.ph
SEPF, which was endorsed by the United Nations United Nations in the Philippines (accessed 5 March 2021)
Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic 1the informal economy sector, including casual labour
and small-scale producers and distributors of goods
trend on how these systems have adapted to the
“new normal” Key Findings increasing economic hardship, transforming health
risk problems into income and employment risks.
and services within the food systems (street vendors,
carinderias or informal food stalls, and wet markets), To examine the extent or severity of the Risk pathways and the The crisis has created shock on food demand
which are highly vulnerable and at most risk during a COVID-19 crisis impacts in terms of food impact of COVID-19 crisis on channeled through income risks by change in
crisis or shock with the work arrangements that do not security and nutrition of the most vulnerable, consumer spending behaviours, and the increasing
provide access to protection and social security. 6, 7
underserved, and special sections of the
agrifood systems number of people being out of jobs and losing their
metropolitan population livelihoods. The short-term shock on food demand
After a year of lockdown in Metro Manila in the fight is strongly linked with the consumer panic-buying
to contain COVID-19, the observed impacts have To assess the emerging best practices in local behaviour observed across food markets due to
dramatically increased the levels of uncertainty and governance, sustainability and business delivery, the perception that food will be unavailable as
have disrupted the national food supply forecast and digital solutions to addressing bottlenecks community quarantines are being enforced. Food
and food security strategic plans. To undertake the in agrifood supply chains, and access and demand risks are predominantly restricted to
assessment on how the impacts manifest across the availability of food by consumers Primary production risks. Small-scale food vulnerable population members, the majority of
food systems in the metropolitan region, the research producers are considered less resilient to COVID-19 whom have no savings, have limited access to safety
assessment focused on the following objectives: To identify the gaps in evidence, where shocks, particularly in terms of restricted mobility and nets and need to allocate a bigger share of their
further research and collaboration may be travel suspensions, due to farm operations requiring budget to food. In the long term, declining demand
To document the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis required, and recommend the relevant policies intensive labour, from planting, growing and harvesting by the change in consumer food spending driven by
on the agrifood supply and distribution systems and programmes by the government and by to delivering farm produce, and their dependency on consumers’ decreasing purchasing power affects the
catering to Metro Manila, and to demonstrate the development partners on the way forward to the market value chains. Farmers supplying fresh ability of producers to invest in their products, which
address the agrifood supply chain and food agrifood products to Metro Manila faced serious will further deplete food production.
security challenges and issues challenges accessing markets to sell their produce
or buy essential farm inputs. Poor connectivity to Food supply and distribution risks. The most
The research assessment used a food system markets amplified by marginalized farmers and visible risk is on food supply and distribution due
approach that considers Metro Manila agrifood fisherfolk’s heavy dependence on concentrated to unprecedented disturbances in logistics and
systems in its totality. The data collection was distribution points such as in urban demand centers infrastructure connecting food value chains from the
shaped by integration of information collected were the most commonly mentioned and emphasized field to the table. The agrifood supply value chains
from the perspectives of key informants engaged hurdles by both farmers and fisherfolk. have been disorganized and badly disrupted in the
remotely, desk reviews, findings of the existing early weeks due to restrictions on vehicle movement
assessment reports, and applicability of diverse In the medium to long term, the primary production and road traffic controls. The limited availability of
COVID-19 experiences across Metro Manila to the sector is affected indirectly by COVID-19 through the public transportation services caused mobility and
complex food systems. The findings presented disruption of input supply chains and of consumer accessibility problems for consumers and food sector
in this synthesis report and policy brief covers all demand due to lost income and other economic workers alike. Poor communication channels among
food systems components, from production to impacts of the pandemic. One year into the food system players added to the supply shock.
consumption played by different sets of actors and pandemic, and with farm operations’ efficiency and
stakeholders under existing societal elements such productivity slowing down, farmers are put further The disrupted delivery movements of agrifood
WFP enumerators enforce COVID-19 preventive measures
as socio-cultural, institutional, infrastructural and at risk to secure adequate financing and cash flows products resulted in an increased incidence of
during the SCOPE registration of beneficiaries for the UNCERF
project in the Municipality of Malilipot, Albay. Photo © WFP/ policy environments, among others. for easy access to production inputs, and pre-harvest food wastage due to spoilage of highly perishable
Maitta Rizza Pugay
and post-harvest activities to sustain a resilient commodities, lower farmgate prices because of
production system. deteriorated quality, and higher retail price because
of increased hauling cost. The potential risks on food
Food demand risks. Demand-side risk seems loss and waste were particularly massive on the
6
United Nations Development Programme. “COVID PULSE PH: Urban Poverty in the Time of the Pandemic” (2020). Available at https:// to be the more important potential source of food informal sector consisting of wet market sellers and
www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/library/ poverty/covid-pulse-ph----urban-poverty-in-the-time-of-the-pandemic.html. insecurity, with the biggest risks on consumers’ operators, food vendors, and small retailers because
7
International Labour Organization. COVID-19 Labour Market Impact in the Philippines: Assessment and National Policy Responses access to food. As the pandemic continues, the they do not have storage capacity and access to food
(2020). Available at https://www.ilo.org/manila/publications/ WCMS_762209/lang--en/index.htm. COVID-19 containment responses resulted in processing infrastructures.
2 United Nations Philippines Policy Brief Series Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic 3Hundreds from Manila’s indigent
communities line up early in
the morning for the community
pantry set up by Mang Tootz Food
Impact dynamics on
House in Sampaloc. The pantry
was inspired by the Maginhawa
Community Pantry in Quezon City.
Photo © UNDP/Jilson Tiu
selected agrifood
Continued enforcement of social distancing and
limits on internal and external logistics on food
were distressed by the orders to stay at home and
close their stalls during the Enhanced Community
commodity value chains
supply chains translate to increased logistical Quarantine (ECQ) implemented by the government,
transaction costs and thus consumer prices. The without clear information or assistance on how
impacts are more in the downstream retail and food they could comply with the long list of health
service which are mostly informal-sector small and safety requirements to reopen. However, retail and
medium-sized food enterprises (SMEs) with higher food service firms in modern food supply chains
densities of workers and limited spaces, as well as faced fewer problems, and least affected were the
limited control and capacities to implement safety supermarket chains which can enforce the flow of
and hygiene practices. These effects can compound customers, social distancing and hygiene standards.
each other in a vicious cycle cascading to indigent For example, supermarkets were allowed to remain
urban food consumers. open even during ECQs while informal and open-air
food markets, which typically sell fresh agrifoods
Public policy and institutional risks. Policy and such as fruits and vegetables, were shut down
institutions have major direct and indirect impacts as they are seen as spaces for potential disease
on shaping the structure of, and decision-making in, transmission. This move was especially detrimental
agricultural supply chains, and on the relationship of to people who are more reliant on such markets
food systems players. Evidence suggests that the because they can only buy produce and food in
impacts are widely felt but varied and unevenly seen smaller quantities and to the informal food market FAO project team. Members of an FAO project team hike
across food systems. workers who depend on selling food commodities as to a remote, agriculture-dependent village in Altavas,
Aklan Province. FAO, in partnership with the government
their main livelihood. and with funding from UNICEF, supported the
construction of a water impounding system to improve
SMEs across metropolitan areas faced significant
water access, farm productivity and nutrition in the area.
problems. Public and private market operators Photo © FAO/Ed Borra
4 United Nations Philippines Policy Brief Series Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic 5The Philippines has managed a In the fourth quarter of 2020, however, the value
of agricultural production at constant 2018 prices Figure III Value of production in Philippines Agriculture and Fisheries Q4 2020 at constant 2018 prices
relatively healthy level of agriculture
decreased by 3.8 per cent. The decline was noticeable
production during the pandemic in all four key subsectors, with livestock having the Growth Rates
period, in part facilitated by the highest accounted reduction primarily due to the 0 -5 -10 -15
ongoing African Swine Fever (ASF) crisis, followed by
government response measures to
poultry, fisheries, and a slight decline in crops.8 Not all
ensure agrifood systems continue key agricultural subsectors have been equally affected,
to operate. and different agri-commodities have experienced
-3.8%
disruptions at different stages of the value chain.
Agriculture
Figure I Philippine agriculture performance in terms of subsector percentage distribution from 2019 to 2020
-0.4%
Crops Livestock Poultry Fisheries Crops
60
Distrubution
Percentage
40
-12.9%
20
45.19 18.67 19.44 16.7 50.6 16.2 17 16.2 52.7 17.5 14 15.8 57.9 15.4 12.2 14.5
0
3rd Quarter 4th Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Livestock
2019 2020
Source: PSA, Online Database-Performance Summary/Infographics
-5.5%
Poultry
Figure II Philippine agriculture performance from 2019 to 2020
Agriculture Crops Livestock Poultry Fisheries
15 -4.7%
Fisheries
10
Percentage Growth Rate
2.87 2.1 1.63 8.41 0.56 0.4 1 5.4 3.4 0.7 4.8 1.9
5
0
Source: PSA Q4 2020 Value of Production as of January 2021
-5 -8.5 -7.6 -3.8 -3.8 -0.4 -12.9 -5.5 -4.7
-10
-15
3rd Quarter 4th Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter
Vegetable value chain industrial industry, hotels and restaurant partially
2019 2020 shut down due to movement restrictions and stay-
There was an oversupply issue because of the
blockage of supply from the producing regions at-home orders.
Source: PSA to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Online Database
as movement restrictions were enforced during
community quarantines. The oversupply issue Farmers were unprepared, having nowhere
worsened even when the lockdowns were eased to market their next harvests and experiencing
8
Philippine Statistics Authority. Performance of Philippine Agriculture (2021) . Available at https://psa.gov.ph/content/agricultural- in Metro Manila in June 2020 since the demand serious income losses. Every year, January-June
production-decreased-fourth-quarter-2020 (accessed 12 March 2021). for food products plunged as the food service/ is the productive harvest period for crop farmers
6 United Nations Philippines Policy Brief Series Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic 7because of favorable growing climate and less At the farm production level, farmers and competitiveness in the rice sector. In the long
Figure IV Value of production in Philippine agriculture typhoon occurrences during these months. experienced initial difficulty in selling their harvest term, any shock on production and global rice
and fisheries, Q4 2020 at current price levels Farmers tend to grow a single vegetable variety (paddy rice) due to rural-urban bottlenecks. trade could trigger a price crisis.
and growth rates
at the same time, usually one that brings higher Limited movements of traders led to increased
cash returns serving a special market segment price differences between producers and Livestock and poultry value chain
and a limited purpose. This results in saturation consumers, decreased income and cash flows, The ASF outbreak which the pork industry
of the market with excess supply that is unusable and hampered business operations in the local is facing outweighs the possible impacts of
for other purposes. The shortage and glut in rice value chain. Enforcement of the ECQ in March the COVID-19 crisis as agency efforts are
PhP
503.8
Billion
5.0% vegetable supply is seen as arising from the lack coincided with the harvest season but labour and largely channeled on ASF eradication. Industry
of data to guide the production intentions and the farm activities were only slightly affected as most informants are now projecting a weaker demand
Agriculture
low consumption of Filipinos of high-value crops small farms relied on family labour and workers in contrast to the initially positive growth
such as highland vegetables. Poor practices within their localities. forecasts. Due to ECQ enforcement across
particularly on vegetable commodity handling, demand centers, the consumption of pork and
such how they are packed, transported and sold Likewise, after the passage of the Rice chicken meat has dropped by about 20 per cent to
to different market segments, have led to higher Tariffication Law, rice prices have been 30 per cent, although chicken meat consumption
PhP
275.5 8.7% losses. Packaging of leafy vegetables alone decreasing since the second quarter of 2019, is projected to recover as restrictions were eased
Billion resulted in 30 per cent wastage. with the surge of cheap rice imports. Filipino for dine-in food establishments towards the end
Crops consumers including rice farmers themselves of 2020.
In the long term, problems in the vegetable benefitted from lower and more stable rice prices.
production areas lie in the lack of supply-demand However, the surge in imports hit farmers with a While demand for meat was further
data that will guide farmers, connect them to significant drop in farmgate prices, further hurting slashed, backyard producers struggled to
market destinations and unify efforts across farm income. The pandemic-induced changes in look for alternative buyers as the capacity of
value chain actors to make sure that enough of global rice trades, such as decisions limiting the slaughterhouses was reduced when Luzon was
PhP
275.5
Billion
15.1% the right food is produced. flow of rice within and between countries, the put under ECQ, preventing some of their workers
global export bans and other trade restrictions, from turning up due to limited transportation.
Livestock
imply the need to focus on boosting productivity Many farms were put under quarantine as
Rice value chain
In the short term, there is no reason to expect
rice supply problems with the reported gains in
paddy rice output, and rice as one of the shelf-
Figure V Percent distribution of value of production
stable staple foods. Overall, farmers produced
PhP
69.0
Billion -5.6% 626,710 tons more in 2020 than in 2019. Rice
Constant 2018 prices Current prices
retailer informants have experienced increased
Poultry
demand from new markets coming from
12.2% 13.7%
different groups buying rice for public food relief
programmes. The transport of rice coming from Poultry Poultry
warehouses to distribution points were slightly
hampered during ECQs but were soon resolved 14.5% 57.9% 14.7% 54.7%
PhP
74.0 with the issuance of food passes. The price of
-6.8% Fisheries Crops Fisheries Crops
Billion rice was stable during the early months of the
Fisheries pandemic, as it was covered by a price freeze and
the enforcement of suggested retail price scheme
15.4% 16.9%
both for local and imported rice, implemented by Livestock Livestock
the Department of Agriculture.
Source: PSA Q4 2020 Value of Production as of January 2021 Source: PSA Q4 2020 Value of Production as of January 2021
8 United Nations Philippines Policy Brief Series Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic 9some workers contracted COVID-19, limiting the number of smallholder livestock and poultry
livestock buyers’ entry to the farms. Direct raisers, and of feed establishments who renew
buyers or livestock haulers play a crucial role their licenses to operate in 2021. Further, meat
in collecting marketable hogs or chickens from prices continued to rise as supply continued to
one community to another for either direct decrease despite the government’s cap on pork
selling to the wet markets or channeling to the and chicken meat prices and a 150 per cent surge
slaughterhouses. in pork import volume. Higher meat prices crowd
animal protein out of the food budget, pushing
The movement restrictions had a direct impact a large segment of the population into food and
on the transport of marketable animals and nutrition insecurity.
deliveries of feeds and veterinary materials to
farms. Serious delays on travels expose the
animals to heavy stress during transport to the Local dairy value chain
slaughterhouses and markets, affecting meat Despite the COVID-19 crisis, the country’s dairy
quality and carcass recoveries. Deliveries of sector posted a value increase of 18 per cent to
inputs to the farms such as feeds and veterinary PhP1.207 billion in 2020 from PhP1.023 billion Fish market, Samar Sea, Philippines.
Fishing remains a major source of
inputs were also hampered as many third-party in 2019. Noted also were the decreasing imports livelihood in coastal communities.
(1.13 per cent) because of dampened consumer Photo © FAO/Petri Suuronen
transport providers for agri-inputs servicing
routes to different provinces were restricted and demand due to pandemic-induced economic
completely disallowed without the “food lane slowdown, and declining global exports of milk
pass” on the trucks and vehicles. The same was and dairy products. While local dairy production
true for delivery drivers and helpers or pahinante continues to increase annually, it barely covers discontinuity in dairy operations was experienced suspended, which resulted in a temporary rise in
without an exemption pass from the COVID-19 1 per cent of the total supply of the liquid milk by most village-based artificial insemination the cost of fingerlings. However, other inputs such
Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of equivalent, accounting for about 30 per cent of technicians (72 per cent), while most farmers (83 as feeds supply were manageable as most of the
Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF). Moreover, liquid milk supply. Metro Manila remains the per cent) expressed difficulty in accessing inputs feed mills in nearby regions remained accessible.
the crisis has caused serious shipment and major market for fresh milk, making up almost such as feeds and veterinary services. Prices of
logistical congestions in global trade routes, half of the demand. milk and milk products were reported as stable. A The change in demand for fish and the weaker
driving shipment cost of imported inputs to an all- notable volume of spoiled (25 liters) and unsold demand from institutional markets created
time high. In the case of smallholder dairy buffalo (174 liters) milk per week was reported among substantial market changes that affected both
(carabao) farmers, which accounts for 35 per farmers and processors. aquaculture and capture fisheries. The closure
In the long term, the impacts of the pandemic cent of local milk production, the impacts of the of restaurants, fast-food chains and other food
indirectly hindered ASF recovery, and ultimately COVID-19 pandemic were spread across the local establishments resulted in surpluses of fish
the growth performance of the livestock and value chain. Dairying, like fishing and vegetable Fisheries value chain products, particularly high-value fish species from
poultry sector. According to the Bureau of Animal farming, is most susceptible to disruptions, as it The most immediate impact felt by the fisheries captive fisheries. In Metro Manila, the market was
Industry (BAI), operations of their field-based is labour-intensive and involves perishable supply sector was the disruption in the buyer–seller sustained because of online purchases, delivery
staff were limited to postponement of physical chains. A survey by the Philippine Carabao Center link, with chain-of-market disruptions translating systems and mobile markets, but the market
farm evaluations and inspections, and output of indicated that disruptions in normal activities to income losses among value chain players, reach was limited to middle- and higher-income
the ongoing livestock development programmes were felt mostly by milk processors (72 per cent) particularly fisherfolk and aquaculture farmers. households. Selling prices of capture fisheries
were delayed as focus was highly directed to ASF and distributors (65 per cent) during the first six Transport providers charged a premium price and aquaculture production were also affected.
recovery. There was an observed reduction in months of community quarantine.9 Reduction or for cost of delays and limited availability of While the prices of fish for exports decreased
transportation. Reduction in market accessibility since there were no exports, as noted for prawns
has led to adverse situations that extended grown by large-scale fish-exporting farmers, the
from production to distribution as restricted by selling prices of the most-consumed farmed fish,
transport down to the retail and open wet fish tilapia and milkfish, were stable due to continuing
9
Philippine Carabao Center. Impact Assessment of COVID-19 on Carapreneurs’ Livelihood and Food Security (2020). A PCC final result markets. There were also negative impacts on the demand from municipalities and local markets.
presentation, April 2021. availability of fry and fingerlings as air travel was
10 United Nations Philippines Policy Brief Series Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic 11Smaller agrifood producer Women in agrifood systems
The most affected actors are the smallholder In terms of labour, women largely comprise the
producers, with the extent of impacts varying among downstream food commodity chains segments, with
subsectors. The crisis has weakened farmers’ 74.8 per cent in services, retail and wholesale, while
economic and social capacity to participate in 15.4 per cent are in upstream food commodity chains
the market due to poor and inequitable access or production, and 9.8 per cent are in processing.
to information and communication technology These statistics underpin the recognized relevance
(ICT). Farmers were left behind in the increasing of women in food systems, which does not exempt
e-commerce and digital transformations. This them from facing difficulties in absorbing COVID-19
compounded the difficulties experienced by the social and economic shocks. On top of this, women
sector as a consequence of cheaper imported rice carry the burden of ensuring the nutrition security of
in the market and the looming impacts of increasing their households, as most often they are responsible
labour, transport and input costs. for food purchasing, preparation and looking after the
family’s wellbeing.
Informal markets
Mobile operations constitute informal markets and Special consumer segment: Halal food products
play a central role in local food systems, making The food needs of Muslim consumers in Metro
Impact on food systems
use of streets and open markets to both feed urban Manila are overlooked especially in crisis situations.
populations and generate accessible means of There are few Halal restaurants in Metro Manila,
livelihoods for millions of people. Informal players not counting the local eateries in the Muslim
actors and stakeholders across food systems are particularly vulnerable
because majority lack social protection and
districts. With the increased difficulty in continuing
regulatory inspections for validating and certifying
livelihood support. The regional trade and city policy Halal products, including chicken meat, Muslim
towards a supermarket mode of food provisioning households have increasingly resorted to buying
rather than a local market-based distribution system live chickens and slaughtering them at home.
is driving the informal food vendors to be detached Some have also reported personally easing strict
from the food chains. Without addressing this compliance with Halal consumption at the height of
trend, more livelihoods may be lost and many urban the lockdowns. The prices of Halal products were
consumers will increasingly be deprived of fresh and affected as the meat imports for the raw materials
cheaper food sources. became irregular.
Low-income urban consumers
Although the government’s Social Amelioration
Program provided 20 million households nationwide Farmers were left behind in the
with a second tranche of cash aid, it is evidently increasing e-commerce and
unable to address the basic needs of families in an digital transformations.
extended crisis. Low-income consumers’ nutritional
food requirements are compromised as many
have cut their food budgets. Hunger incidence is
increasing, and as many informal settlers are relying
on food aids to survive, the schedule for distribution
of food relief packs has become erratic and less
Barangay Can-Abay, Municipality of Basay, frequent over time.
Samar Island, Visayas Region, Philippines. A
farmer shows rice produced in the aftermath
of Super Typhoon Haiyan. Now rice farmers
have to hurdle even more challenges posed by
COVID-19. Photo © FAO/James Belgrave
12 United Nations Philippines Policy Brief Series Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic 13Government response actions and programmes Measures for overall communications and
The COVID-19 Food Resiliency Task Force was monitoring of the task force was established
created to ensure the availability, affordability, though the Task Force Food Hotline, with a menu of
accessibility and safety of food supply in services for food lane, food supply, rice concerns,
Metro Manila and other parts of the country. fish concerns and livestock concerns. Another
The measures embedded to food resiliency, approved IATF measure was the reactivation of the
spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture Local Price Coordination Council to strengthen food
(DA), have contributed towards mitigating price monitoring and enforcement.
disruptions in the supply chain, monitoring prices
of basic goods, ensuring sufficiency of food There has been action to improve access to
Emerging trends and
supply throughout the islands, and unhampered finance through the Expanded SURE Aid and
mobility of farmers and agricultural workers. Recovery Project. The Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) offers working capital loans to
adaptive practices Continued flow of agriculture and fisheries
products under the Food Resiliency Protocol
agri-fishery micro- and small enterprises and
emergency assistance to marginalized small
was assured, allowing vehicles carrying food farmers and fishers to continue operations
commodities, agriculture and fishery products, amid the enhanced community quarantine. The
as well as farm inputs, to pass quarantine financing programme was designed in support
checkpoints. As a general rule, all farmers and of the Department of Agriculture’s Ahon Lahat,
fisherfolk, both from the municipal and commercial Pagkaing Sapat Kontra COVID-19 or Plant, Plant,
sectors, are regarded as economic frontliners, Plant programme, which aims to increase farm
exempting them from movement restrictions. productivity and ensure food sufficiency during
the COVID-19 emergency situation.
The issuance of a food pass through quarantine
checkpoints is a privilege given to suppliers and To increase access to market, the pilot Online
truckers that ply the roads of Metro Manila and National Food Fair in https://shopee.ph and the
other regions during the community quarantine Shopee mobile app by DTI agencies and Shopee
to ensure unhampered food supply to affected featured—micro-, small, and medium-sized
areas. The Department of Agriculture certifies enterprises (MSMEs) selling healthy snacks,
suppliers and truckers for the food lane privilege, vegetarian and gourmet food, processed food
allowing preferential incentives such as, but not products and various local delicacies.
limited to, truck ban exemption.
Seeds of recovery. The agriculture sector strives to As a general rule, all farmers and fisherfolk, both from the municipal
recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,
as it did in 2013, following the disaster caused by and commercial sectors, are regarded as economic frontliners,
Super Typhoon Haiyan. Farmers survived with the
help of the international community, the Philippines’
exempting them from movement restrictions.
Department of Agriculture and FAO. Photo © FAO/
James Belgrave
14 United Nations Philippines Policy Brief Series Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic 15Mobile food markets
Connecting farmers directly to market, a
project initiative of the Department of Agriculture
through Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita, Kadiwa, loosely
translated as “one idea, one thought,” aims
to boost small farmers’ and fishers’ income chain. Evidence of digital innovations originating
through direct product selling to end-users on-farm, particularly to access markets, was
and increased institutional market linkages. It unnoticeable. There was also no observed
operates in three modes: Kadiwa Retail or Direct spillover effect of market digitalization at the
Selling which establishes physical retail stores farm level, which would provide direct interaction
to accommodate farmers’ produce for sale to between farmers and the end market.
customers especially in population-dense areas;
Kadiwa on Wheels which brings agri-fishery Consumers’ increased access to the internet,
products to barangays and villages through rolling smartphones and mobile banking systems
stores in vehicles; and e-Kadiwa or the digital resulted in strong engagement in buying foods
marketing platform that allows customers to online. There was also an influx of fresh agrifood
order products online. Local government units products, from fruits and vegetables to frozen
(LGUs) in Metro Manila have also been devising meat and seafood, purchased through free
their versions of mobile food markets to reduce social media apps such as Facebook. This
movements of people to purchase food. propelled food chains to shift towards online
Volunteers at the Maginhawa Community portals to enhance sales, offering better food
Pantry prepare for another round of giving
in the afternoon. Here on its third day, the selection, convenience and safety, and creating
pantry was set up using wooden carts
Urban agriculture across metropolitan cities and crates as stations to give and receive a digital food environment and experience
The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted how urban consumables. Photo © UNDP/Jilson Tiu during community quarantines. The online food
agriculture rises to serve urban populations during market has had a huge impact on food product
crises. Increasingly, local governments are publicly differentiation: from selling a variety of food
embracing urban agriculture as a tool to bring preparations and cuisines to buying fresh produce
agriculture to urban dwellers and promote the was approved in October 2020, exempting supermarkets and restaurants, and consumer and even changing consumer food preferences to
importance of growing their own food or having local idle lands from Idle Land Tax if used for urban groups that prefer healthy foods. The higher healthier items.
food production. Many new forms and innovations agriculture for a minimum period of three years. adoption rate across the country for hydroponics
of urban farming have emerged which can inform is in part coping with the crisis towards food and As the pandemic unfolds, digital platforms
greening initiatives, community food security, outdoor In Pasig City, an Ordinance No. 01, approved on income security to provide year-round a wide have increased the number of markets, leading
health interventions, and other social, environmental 28 January 2021, which develops, promotes and variety of fresh vegetables. to better outcomes mainly at the end of the value
and economic benefits in the new normal. institutionalizes an integrated urban agriculture chain as the platforms catered to urban dwellers
in the city to address food security, health, who can afford to buy food online. However, these
Urban farming can contribute to the recovery environment concerns and livelihood opportunities. Digital food environment digital solutions do not solve the rural–urban
potential in the food sector in Metro Manila upon The COVID-19 crisis has opened a window to disconnect or ease the supply chain breakdowns
transition to the new normal. In Quezon City, most Urban hydroponic farming is becoming popular the rapid development of digital technologies (e.g. for high-value crops). They only provide
residents were empowered to use small spaces to among millennials and farming hobbyists (e.g. and networks that will accelerate food system food retailers a venue to facilitate the flow of
produce food. Growing leafy vegetables provided NXTLVL Farms, Urban Greens, other community- transformation by guaranteeing safe access to goods across quarantined urban populations. It
food and income to some households within a based and private-led urban farms) who know food when commercial food establishments are is not clear whether these digital solutions and
short period. the market but lack the open space needed to closed and access to food retail is controlled. online market or food channels would scale up
grow crops. Hydroponics-produced greens in the and embed the process in entire food systems
To enhance the Quezon City government’s city decreased food miles with consistent and Initially, digital innovations promoted considering the limited network reach, poor
campaign to strengthen food security and urban better quality. These are sold at a premium price efficiencies mostly on the downstream points access to ICT at the upstream level, and farmers
agriculture, City Ordinance No. SP-2972 S-2020 in modern food supply chains such as high-end (consumer and retail level) along the value agencies weakened by the pandemic.
16 United Nations Philippines Policy Brief Series Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic 17Social innovations through community pantries Community pantries may be temporary as
The emergence of community pantries, which they were solely intended as an emergency
started on Maginhawa Street, Quezon City, is a food service and not as a long-term strategy
manifestation of the population’s perception of to manage chronic food insecurity. However,
the inability of government support to keep pace the simple rule in organizing of the community
with the growing needs in Metro Manila. Food as pantries clearly includes food access as a lens
the main component of relief operations happens to the socioeconomic issues induced by the
all the time especially during disasters but pandemic. Like other innovations, the design of
responding to the need for food has required a community pantries, which centers on the spirit
stronger cooperation among locals. A community- of collaboration and understanding for those in
based campaign to ease hunger is self-regulating, need, can be used as a criterion for long-term
which means anyone who needed food could get strategies to address the systemic problem of
from the available food products in the pantries, hunger and food insecurity, and the need for food
and anyone who had spare food could give. systems transformation.
The rise of community pantries has led to
the recognition of income status as a social Exploring alternative protein sources as meat
Issues and gaps in food
determinant influencing food security. People prices rise
scrambling for free food reflects the impacts The prices of livestock products, especially
of the COVID-19 crisis on vulnerable groups, meat, have soared since the fourth quarter of
including people with low incomes, the elderly,
migrant workers and those displaced by
2020 despite the government’s efforts to put a
cap on prices. Livestock raisers who lost their systems development
increasing joblessness in Metro Manila. livelihoods due to ASF have either ventured into
poultry, diversified with high-value crop farming,
or are exploring other livestock resources that
have been undervalued yet remain a promising
resource as they offer a niche market. BAI
Ifugao Rice Terraces, Philippines. informants have mentioned the increasing
Ifugao terraces have shaped a striking
landscape in the mountains between efforts of private groups and animal industry
800 and 1,500 meters. Indeed, they professionals to develop rabbit production as
were previously forested areas while
others are presumably grasslands. It a source of meat and alternative livelihood for
is however, the availability of water
farmers. There is also increased interest in the
that dictated the building of the Ifugao
terraces and allowed them to create this development of native animals (chickens) and
system. Photo © FAO/Lena Gubler
the production of small ruminants (meat goats)
by infusing improved animal breeds through
the DA-BAI animal breeding stocks importation.
Meanwhile, the Quezon City local government
is supporting backyard farmers affected by
ASF by converting empty pig stalls into urban
aquaculture, specifically for the production of
freshwater fish such as catfish and tilapia.
Stop soil erosion, save our
future. Bureau of Soils and Water
Management, Philippines. Photo
© Djolly Ma. Dinamling
18 United Nations Philippines Policy Brief Series Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic 19An assessment of the COVID-19 made supply and demand erratic and more complex. distribution points. Farming innovation and high and invest in expanded food security and nutrition
In addition to the climate and weather behaviours technology are a requisite for food and nutrition programmes instead of responding with standalone
crisis impacts and emerging
that have been the focus of many interventions, security. Food policies in urban regions are rarely feeding programmes for specific population groups.
adaptive practices, as experienced a felt need of farmers is the timely availability of designed in connection with other policies such as Although the pandemic has recalibrated the Zero
in Metro Manila, revealed evidence information on technology and market opportunities rural development and with different levels of actions Hunger goal by 2030 to at least bring back the
so they could move beyond the COVID-19-induced (coordinated actions and collaborations among hunger incidence to pre-pandemic level, the national
and gaps to consider in designing
disruptions. Changes in marketing trends and various levels of governance); thus, there is a lack of government should also align sectoral goals for
interventions and approaching food dynamics, particularly on market demand, should be comprehensive, interdisciplinary, inter-institutional increased accountability in solving worsening hunger
systems transformation. cascaded to farmers to avoid production losses and and multi-stakeholders’ perspectives. and malnutrition.
trade-offs, and promote synergies in their farming
decisions. Moreover, there is a pronounced inequity Knowledge gaps on magnitude of Food Loss and Capability gaps on food provisioning. The lack of
in ICTs which are highly concentrated in urban Waste (FLW) occurring along the value chains. capacity for adaptation and change in the food
Strategic gaps in preparedness, response and areas. Information and communication support The COVID-19 crisis has hampered the effective supply chain highlights the relatively weak role of
recovery strategies. Gaps in addressing disruptions and services appear as a luxury rather than a need management of the food supply chain, causing the farmer in food systems, despite the farmer
to food supply bottlenecks were seen in the lack of to overcome information gaps which impact rural unforeseen pre- and post-harvest losses to consumer being the provider of raw agricultural product. For
transparent routes in the food supply and distribution farmers, fisherfolk and women. waste for highly perishable agrifood commodities instance, emergency food provision programmes
systems and in the inadequate logistical directions to such as high-value vegetables and fishery products. need a more focused approach in managing the
link rural food producers with urban demand centers. Long-standing institutional gaps. The COVID-19- There was less attention on finding immediate worsening problem of hunger, and should target
The drastic enforcement of containment measures induced supply chain disruptions have brought up the solutions to reduce FLW along the production and economic relief based on economic vulnerability
had no parallel strategic preparedness measure for a frequently overlooked interconnectivity of upstream, supply chains despite reports of farmers dumping indices. Low-income households face a higher risk of
whole-of-food value chain operation guidance. While mid-stream and downstream levels between formal their produce, non-operating processing centers food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic; thus,
the issuance of food lane passes to suppliers and and informal institutions in a food system. The recovering wasted food, and urban consumers food provisioning strategies must be more frequent
truckers of agri-fisheries products has facilitated transfer of responsibility for the development and stockpiling. In Metro Manila, FLW is the blind spot and more diverse as food insecurity levels increase
the continued flow of food commodities, many delivery of services to the agriculture and fisheries in finding solutions to hunger. Even before the especially among families relying on food assistance
informal small players in the supply chain have been sector from the central to the local governments pandemic, living in poverty meant looking for food programmes. It is this lack of clear guidance on
excluded because they lacked the capacity to comply came with a transfer of resources. This has widened among garbage while restaurants dumped their emergency food aid that inspired ordinary citizens to
with the documentation requirements for food lane unintended gaps in institutionalizing accountability unsold produce for the day and consumers stockpile set up community pantries to feed those in need.
accreditation. Informal food system players at the and participation of food systems players. Further, food without a consumption or meal plan. With the
downstream level such as family-run retailers or food targeted social protection and safety nets for food growing disparity in food access, FLW needs to be Financial and resources gaps. COVID-19 has put
vendors have a critical role to play in food retail and systems actors have been limited and opportunistic targeted in policy and programme designs to reduce immense financial pressure on the government
distribution across Metro Manila; thus, their inclusion rather than systematic. income losses of farmers and promote food access. due to economic shrinkage and the reallocation
or participation in preparedness, response, and of resources towards emergency health response
recovery strategies is necessary. Implementation gaps on urban agriculture Food governance accountability gaps. The and social assistance programmes. The resources
programmes. Community gardening in Metro government recognizes the problem of hunger and needed to address the economic impacts of the
Information gaps particularly on market dynamics Manila has existed years before the pandemic malnutrition in the country and has formed the pandemic on the agrifood and fisheries subsectors
within food system actors and stakeholders. This but sustainability was marked by a lack of volume Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger. The task and to protect rural economies by guaranteeing the
is evidenced by the millions of losses incurred and diversity of produce, as well as agricultural force formulated the National Food Policy, which economic sustainability of agricultural enterprises
from farmers’ unsold produce, retailers’ closed innovations to expand and optimize urban space. details the efficient use of government resources were not clearly earmarked. There has been too
businesses, and urban consumers’ stockpiling Appropriate urban gardening technological to end hunger, achieve food security, improve much focus on commodity-specific and short-term
behavior and lack of awareness of how far food interventions integrated in long-standing urban nutrition and attain sustainable agriculture. However, emergency measures. The inequitable allocation
travels to get to their tables. The crisis also revealed gardening programmes, and consistent extension accountability for ending hunger and malnutrition of resources aimed at improving the production of
the poor and ineffective ICT systems that prevents activities to scale up good practices could have is too spread out to put into practice and there is a susceptible agrifood commodity systems will harm
access to farmers at the right time and location. The eased the supply bottleneck caused by the lack prioritization of solutions. For example, LGUs the potential for resilient transformation in post-
information blockage from farm-to-table pathways dependence of urban regions on specific food with worsening hunger indicators should take action pandemic recovery.
20 United Nations Philippines Policy Brief Series Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic 21Policy Recommendations
The scale of the crisis has
underscored the need for current
food systems to transform in order
to thrive, withstand and recover from
potentially worse future disasters
and emergencies.
The transformation should be purposive and
strategically informed by systemic risks, such
as those discussed in this research, and risks on
primary production, food demand, food supply
and distribution, public policy, and institutions.
Interventions addressing risks and challenges should
also leverage the emerging autonomous and assisted
adaptive practices and innovations that offer lessons
on effective long-term strategies.
Loida Lagan, fish vendor from Palawan,
Philippines. “We learned how to dry fish
and squid more efficiently by minimizing
Fostering an enabling legal and spoilage and proper cleaning. We are
optimistic that we can have better
policy environment for food systems incomes. We’ve also learned how not to
transformation be too dependent on our spouses, that
women can help, and we’ve become
Upholding the rights of and support services more confident in doing that.” Photo ©
FAO/Rommel Cabrera
for smallholder agrifood producers. In the midst
of crisis, smallholder farmers and fisherfolk have
shown how essential they are to the economic
stability of the country and the food security of
the population, including those in urban centers. the equitable benefits and opportunities intended demand and prices; access to financial support magnified just how distant and far-removed
The crisis has also highlighted their vulnerability for farmers and fisherfolk by agricultural and services like credit; and access to technologies. urban consumers are from sources of food. The
to widescale market-related and logistical rural development policies and plans supporting More than ever, securing land and water tenure disruptive effects COVID-19 on the complex web
disruptions, and their lack of adaptive capacities their socioeconomic endeavors. The pandemic and rights are needed to ease the compounding of actors connecting farm to table is further
due to limited agencies and prevailing social emergency highlighted the need for social burdens on their role as primary producers. shaken by a sudden change in the demand
inequities. There is an urgent need to uphold the security and safety nets to protect smallholder mix, which exposes the lack of transparency
rights of smallholder farmers and fisherfolk, as agrifood producers from personal and social Creating shorter food value chains and routes and the unorganized food supply chains
enshrined in the Magna Carta of Small Farmers disasters; a more systematic fulfilment of their dispersed agrifood distribution systems. as experienced in Metro Manila. For example,
(Republic Act 7607). It is also necessary to secure right to receive vital information on market Restricted mobility during the pandemic has disruptions in the transport of highland
22 United Nations Philippines Policy Brief Series Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic 23vegetables to urban demand centers disconnect leading innovations that are fit for purpose. While the volume of food needed in the future to of the response measures of the COVID-19 Food
supply and demand, creating surpluses for the development of agriculture and fisheries is support the growing population. A dynamic Resiliency Task Force. The food pass strategy
producers and shortages for consumers. For already within their mandates, LGUs can further system for monitoring has been developed to and the Kadiwa programme were instrumental
certain products, like high-value catch fisheries, promote and support more diverse production feed into food production allocation strategies. for Metro Manila. These interventions involved
demand has decreased, leading to a temporary systems to include locally developed and adapted It is crucial for these policy actions to be able to the cooperation of government agencies at
oversupply. Food value chains must be shortened crop and animal varieties. They can also develop anticipate worst-case scenarios of shocks and different levels and coordination with private
and localized to increase market flexibility. Food input methods to boost local food production threats to food systems. The impacts of climate sector actors—a prime example of the whole-of-
distribution systems must be dispersed so that which is essential for shorter food supply chains. change are already being felt and projected society approach to stave off hunger during crisis.
producers can reach their markets more easily However, agriculture is not the concern of the impacts are even more devastating and are The lesson from this is that intra-governmental
and consumers can purchase food items more Department of Agriculture and LGU alone. All food anticipated to compound the long-standing mechanisms have to be prepared well in
quickly and safely, especially when movements systems actors, including development partners, structural problems faced by the agriculture advance to anticipate the possible magnitude
of persons and goods are restricted. Open and private sectors and consumers have valuable sector. Strategic planning must place climate of disruptions. This entails aligning directives
diversified markets are essential to the smooth roles to play in transforming local food systems change consideration at the center of long-term between national and local authorities; simplifying
distribution of food along supply chains and beyond COVID-19. directions for food and nutrition security. inter-agency bureaucratic arrangements; and
the assurance that it can move to where it is putting in place protocols (such as transport
needed. This reduces food loss in the system Developing the urban food space. The rising routes, specialized lanes) for crisis scenarios
and increases access and consumption of adoption of urban gardens demonstrates the Addressing institutional and operational during the normal period and ensure that
fresh, healthy and diverse foods. However, ability of the urban populations to grow their challenges for crisis mitigation and interventions can be deployed cohesively. As in the
this also requires appropriate governance and own foods and the potential for augmented food preparedness case of the food pass, these requirements should
long-term investments for the informal actors supplies for families, whether in normal and Multi-hazard and interoperable monitoring and be arranged with food systems actors at various
and economies such as mobile markets, street crisis situations. Households themselves are at early warning systems. The ability to anticipate segments well before the onset of the emergency.
vendors and local eateries which have been the forefront of this emerging trend but LGUs the onslaught of hazards in agriculture and
catering to local populations during the pandemic. play an important role in optimizing community shocks to the food system has become more
There should also be support for stricter spaces for urban farming, as well as boosting urgent than ever. The Department of Agriculture, Improving technical capacities of food
monitoring and regulation of community retail, the volumes and diversity of produce. In addition through collaborations with the Department of systems actors
wholesale wet markets and processing clusters, to ensuring that urban agriculture is factored Science and Technology, has been ramping up Information and feedback systems. The
and redesign for improved health practices, so into the spatial planning of urban areas, public its capabilities in monitoring and early warning impact pathways experienced by food systems
that they maintain essential operations during the investments should be directed towards game- systems for agro-meteorological hazards such actors pointed to a lack of information that
crisis and remain competitive when it passes. changing solutions to the issue of the urban food as drought and typhoons. There is great potential could have allowed them to cope with and adapt
space. This should involve the participation of to expand systems for other emergent natural to the impacts. There is an urgent need for a
Building a common understanding of the urban populations, private sector partners, and and human-caused hazards especially for pest comprehensive, accessible and user-friendly
roles of the national and local governments in informal segments of the food system in order to and disease management in crops and livestock.
agricultural development and food governance. be responsive to the food and nutrition needs of The challenge is to increase these multi-hazard
The pandemic has put a spotlight on the crucial marginalized sectors. capacities and make them interoperable with
role of the agriculture sector during a crisis but related monitoring systems such as those Goods are replenished
at the Maginhawa
agricultural policies have been unsuccessful in Supporting the National Food Security for public health, nutrition and even market Community Pantry. Photo
sparking a dynamic development as the impacts Strategy and Plan with urgent consideration of information. These early warning systems must © UNDP/Jilson Tiu
of the COVID-19 crisis are felt. The Department climate change impacts and protracted crises. stand with decision-support and anticipatory
of Agriculture has calibrated its approach The ongoing development of the National action protocols to ensure timely and speedy
and “new thinking” is underway, preparing the Food Policy and the National Food Security mitigation actions and response to threats and
scene for more localized action. As the national Strategy and Plan is important in ensuring the shocks across the food system.
government steers, the LGUs are best suited for availability, stability and affordability of food. It
collaborative food governance that will enable will also secure food accessibility and safety, Cohesive intra-governmental mechanisms
local value addition and local trade facilitation. along with nutrition adequacy. The Department to prepare for food systems disruptions. After
The crisis has showcased the abilities of LGUs of Agriculture has undertaken a National Food an initial period of confusion, supply chain
not only in mobilizing rapid response but also in Consumption Quantification Study to determine disruptions were addressed, partly with the help
24 United Nations Philippines Policy Brief Series Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic 25You can also read
