Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Sutherland

Visit to PRIME Site in Valencia City, Philippines

28-30 August 2006

With the completion of the ORMP, PDAP, together with its partner organizations, will formally turn over the Master Plan to the LGU to signify its support to the development of OA in Valencia City.

Specifically, this forum aims to achieve the following:

· To officially turnover to the Mayor of Valencia City the Organic Rice Master Plan (ORMP) of Valencia LGU which was jointly initiated by PDAP, AJPN & Valencia LGU;

· To officially launch the PRIME program in Valencia City as an expression of the commitment of PDAP in partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to promote organic agriculture as a strategy for poverty reduction, environmental protection and economic development of Valencia; and

· To update the local partners and Ambassador Sutherland of the developments in organic rice production, processing and marketing in Valencia through a farm visit to organic rice farmers.

In addition to the above and as a manifestation of PRIME’s initial support to the farmers and their marketing partner in Valencia, PDAP and Ambassador Peter Sutherland will do a symbolic turnover of the trading funds provided to the Bukidnon Organic Products Corporation (BOPC).

At the end of the program, Ambassador Sutherland will provide a message after the commitment building involving the partners from the LGU, academe, marketing arms, NGOs, POs in the area.

After which, the Ambassador’s party and some of the PRIME partners are invited to visit the area of the Malahutayong Kahiusahan sa mga Kababayen-an sa Bukidnon (MAKAKABUS), one of PRIME’s local partner in Valencia City located in Brgy. Sinayawan. This field visit intends to showcase the experience of the farmer-organization in shifting from conventional to organic farming and how this has impacted in their livelihood and families. The dialogue with the organic farmers is also an opportunity for Ambassador Sutherland to appreciate the dynamics involved in the production, processing and marketing of the organic rice.