In line with the government’s climate resiliency and water security program, the Department of Agriculture (DA) continues to strengthen collaboration with other countries to promote agricultural innovation, inclusivity and efficient water usage.
On March 7, 2023, Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban welcomed representatives of the Italian government, led by the Vice-Consul of the Embassy of Italy in the Philippines Matteo Mascia, during the Italian Trade Mission in Manila.
“We welcome you not just as distinguished representatives in the international community but also as friends to our nation’s agriculture that we Filipinos could rely on,” Usec. Panganiban said.
During the mission, the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) presented their projects and potential areas for collaboration.
The Italian Trade Mission, fulfilled through the initiative of the Embassy of Italy in the Philippines, the Italian Trade Agency, and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, Inc., aims to discuss ways to strengthen trade relations between the Philippines and Italy.
It was participated by five Italian enterprises with expertise in aqueducts, hydraulic engineering facilities, water cycle management, irrigation systems, and water treatment facilities. These are the Acquedotto Pugliese (AQP), CAPRARI, Cooperativa Muratori e Cementisti di Ravenna (CMC), IRRITEC, and Valvotubi Ind. ### (text by Kristel Joyce Merle/photos by Adonis Buhayan, DA-AFID)
