First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta Marcos, Senator Cynthia Villar, Senator Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” Romualdez Marcos, and DA-National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP) Director Bernadette F. San Juan were named the country’s Women in Organic Agriculture in Asia in the Philippines (WOAA-Ph) Ambassadors for their organic farming advocacies and pioneering efforts in mainstreaming organic farming practices across the country.

The awarding ceremony was held during the 1^st WOAA-Ph Summit last June 4 at the Kasuwagan International Organic Convention Center, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. Secretary Maria Belen Acosta of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and DILG Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Lopez de Leon were also designated as ambassadors.

Bridging the gap and recognizing the role of women in agriculture, particularly in organic agriculture industry, Philippines has its own organization of women that play alongside men in campaigning for organic agriculture movement as a tool to restore the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change.

WOAA-Ph started as a self-organized structure (SOS) of the League of Organic Agriculture Municipalities, Cities and Provinces of the Philippines (LOAMCP-Ph) with 12 members from regions 10 and 13. In 2019, it was officially accepted as a member of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Organics Asia and Asian Local Governments for Organic Agriculture (ALGOA).

Now, enjoining all women nationwide, including women leaders from both local and national, and with membership from different parts of the country, the organization commits to contribute in promoting and expanding organic agriculture in the country.

“I believe that this group will make a big difference to the organic agriculture sector and will surely contribute together with the national government to attain food security while also protecting biodiversity and our environment from harmful chemicals and malpractice,” Dir. San Juan said.

As an ambassador, Director San Juan pledge to strive more in promoting organic agriculture throughout the country, continue to support every organization with the same goal, link them to partners and collaborate in implementing different programs, projects and activities related to organic agriculture. ###