ILOILO – With an ambitious goal of becoming the second-largest rice-producing province in the country, the Iloilo provincial government has sealed a landmark partnership with the United Kingdom to implement climate-resilient agricultural strategies aimed at improving rice productivity and enhancing irrigation systems amid worsening climate conditions.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with British Embassy Manila Economic and Climate Counsellor Lloyd Cameron on July 2 at the Governor’s Boardroom, formalizing collaboration under the UK government’s climate adaptation initiative. The effort is supported by the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Boston Consulting Group.
The agreement builds on six months of engagement that began when the Iloilo delegation, led by Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, participated in the Adaptation Investment Forum in Taguig City in March 2025.
Iloilo and Negros Occidental were selected as pilot provinces for the initiative, which seeks to mobilize private sector investment to build climate-resilient food and water systems.
“This partnership is very significant. We have a target of six metric tons per hectare, and with your help, maybe we will be the number two rice-producing province in the country,” said Gov. Defensor, noting that Iloilo currently ranks fifth nationwide.
The UK-backed initiative aligns with the province’s SERBISYO Program (System Enhancement for Rice to Boost, Increase, and Sustain Yield Onwards), which promotes climate-smart farming practices, the use of high-yield rice varieties, and investments in irrigation infrastructure. Core components of the program include constructing small-scale water reservoirs and rehabilitating irrigation systems to ensure steady water supply even during prolonged dry seasons.
Lloyd Cameron, speaking on behalf of the UK government, commended Iloilo’s proactive approach: “We want to tell Iloilo’s story globally and to showcase this pioneering work of how adaptation is done in agriculture to drive food security, health, and investment.”
Present during the MOU signing were Vice Gov. Christine “Lee Ann” Debuque, along with other top provincial officials including Banias, Provincial Agriculturist Ildefonso Toledo, and heads of key offices such as Environment and Natural Resources, Disaster Risk Reduction, Engineering, Planning, and Cooperatives.
The British Embassy’s Climate and Environment Team is set to conduct field visits to monitor climate adaptation efforts at key project sites including the Katungan Eco Park in Leganes, the seaweed farm in Concepcion, and the SMALL Water Impounding System in Lambunao.
The partnership is expected to serve as a model for integrating climate resilience into agriculture and scaling up efforts to secure food production in vulnerable provinces./PN
