PASAY CITY, PHILIPPINES—As a key item of the Philippine Development Plan for 2017 to 2022, the National Color-Coded Agricultural Guide (NCCAG) Map was presented to the public during the breakout session of the Philippine Development Plan Expo entitled “Aksyon Para Sa Ambisyon”, held last June 2, 2017 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

The NCCAG Map provides location-specific information on the natural production potential for 20 selected crops, combined with their exposure to climate-induced hazards, with data as specific down to the barangay-level. Other data may be accessed from the maps such as groundwater availability, poverty incidence, agro-ecological zones, and climate data (temperature and rainfall). As more information is gathered, more elements will be added to the color-coded map.

During the breakout session, Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Ariel T. Cayanan provided an overview of how the NCCAG Map was developed, how to navigate the map, and its uses beyond agriculture, i.e. providing guidance in investment planning, research and development, infrastructure, and disaster management.

Live and interactive demos on how to use the NCCAG Map were also availed by delegates and attendees at the Pagbabago booth in the main expo hall, facilitated by DA staff. Instructional booklets were also given to interested visitors.
 
 
 

The National Color-Coded Agricultural Guide (NCCAG) Map being demonstrated to attendees at the “Pagbabago” booth of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) Expo held last June 2, 2017 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

The NCCAG Map is a major output of DA’s Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative, or AMIA, which is handled by the Department’s Systems-Wide Climate Change Office (DA-SWCCO). The map was launched in Malacañang Palace last March, presented by Sec. Emmanuel Piñol to no less than Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.

Aside from offering foresight in agricultural and economic planning, the map would also prove useful for LGUs in preparing their comprehensive land use plans (CLUP) and climate change risk reduction measures in line with their Local Climate Change Adaptation Plans (LCCAP).

The DA-AMIA NCCAG Map falls under Pagbabago, or reducing inequality, one of the Philippine Development Plan’s three main pillars, the other two being Malasakit, or enhancing the social fabric, and Patuloy na Pag-unlad, or increasing growth potential. As part of the effort to reduce inequality, the government seeks to expand economic opportunities in the agriculture, fisheries, and forestry (AFF) sector (elaborated within Chapter 8 of the PDP). This would be done by improving the sector’s ecological productivity within the ecological limit, i.e. striking a balance between utilization and regeneration of land and water resources for sustainability (PDP Chapter 8).

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