(Photo Courtesy of World Food Programme Executive Board Secretariat)
The Philippine Embassy in Rome attended the 2nd Regular Session of the World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Board for 2014 held last 10-13 November 2014 in Rome.
In the Meeting’s Opening Session, PH Deputy Permanent Representative to the Food and Agriculture Office of the United Nations (FAO-UN) and Special Agriculture Representative Lupiño Lazaro, Jr. lauded WFP’s continued partnership with members and collaboration with Rome-based and other UN agencies in pursuit of the challenge to eliminate hunger (Zero Hunger World) and in giving prominence to food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
Special Agriculture Representative Lupiño Lazaro, Jr. on his intervention (Photo Courtesy of World Food Programme Executive Board Secretariat)
Deputy Permanent Representative Lazaro also took the opportunity to thank the World Food Programme for the assistance extended in the aftermath of super typhoon Haiyan which brought unprecedented damage to the country, affecting around 1.5 million families and leaving 6,300 people dead. “We are eternally grateful for the unprecedented response by the international community, including WFP and its members and donors, during those dark days of our recorded history.”,Deputy Permanent Representative Lazaro said.
The WFP was also informed that “communities are being restored and livelihoods being rebuilt” in line with the continued efforts of the Philippine Government to Build Back Better, Faster and Safer. As many of those affected are family farmers, the Philippines also expressed appreciation for WFP’s engagement in the celebration of the 2014 International Year of Family Farming (IYFF).
In the Philippines, WFP is working with relevant national agencies in implementing programs such as Food or Cash for Assets, and innovations such as the development of a locally-produced fortified ready-to-eat supplementary food for children.
Given the country’s recognition of the importance of building resilience and emergency preparedness, the Philippines welcomed WFP’s initiatives and future innovations of WFP in collaboration with relevant government and non-government agencies at the national and regional levels. In this regard, the Philippines much looks forward to the discussion for the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) for the Philippines in the next Board meeting in 2015.
WFP’s Executive Board holds three formal sessions per year: the First Regular Session (EB.1) in February, the Annual Session (EB.A) in June and the Second Regular Session (EB.2) in October or November. In exceptional circumstances, the Board may also hold special sessions. The Philippines sits in the WFP’s Executive Board after being elected as a Member at the 145th FAO Council Meeting in December 2012 for a three-year term until 31 December 2015. END
