Policy and Institutional Challenges in Climate Information Services Provisioning in Philippine Agriculture

Dulce Elazegui; Agnes Rola; Roger Luyun, Jr.; Nico Jayson Anastacio; Francis John Faderogao; Maria Cristina Alvarez

Dulce Elazegui College of Public Affairs and Development, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Agnes Rola College of Public Affairs and Development, University of the Philippines Los Baños https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2061-0741
Roger Luyun, Jr. College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9936-5362
Nico Jayson Anastacio College of Public Affairs and Development, University of the Philippines Los Baños https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7648-1275
Francis John Faderogao College of Public Affairs and Development, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Maria Cristina Alvarez College of Public Affairs and Development, University of the Philippines Los Baños

Keywords: climate information service, institution, policy, PAGASA, Philippines

Abstract

Current and immediate information about the increasingly unpredictable weather conditions are needed to augment conventional knowledge in local communities. Policy analysis on climate information services (CIS) provisioning in the agriculture sector is vital and warranted. This paper describes the global and national CIS policies as well as the institutions involved in provisioning through the characterization of pathways from data generation to dissemination. Further, it identifies the various intermediary users of the CIS and how CIS are ultimately disseminated to the municipal agricultural offices and the farmers. Secondary data sources were searched. Primary data were gathered through key informant interviews. Qualitative methods were used in the analysis. This paper concludes that the Philippines needs a better system to provide climate information through more modern technologies, improved capacities, and more stable institutional partnerships, among others. To sustain or bolster the provisioning of CIS, there must be compliance to standards in the establishment, use, and maintenance of the CIS equipment; improved capacities in the dissemination; and commitment of partners to institutionalize collaboration among the providers and the users of CIS.