DA, DOLE lead aquaculture project advisory on decent work and responsible business conduct
The Philippine government through the DA and DOLE will co-chair the newly established Project Advisory/Steering Committee on Aquaculture to promote decent work and responsible business in aquaculture supply chains.
27 March 2024
The Philippines, through the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), confirmed their commitment on 12 March 2024 to co-chair the newly formed Project Advisory/Steering Committee (PAC) on Aquaculture.
Following the formation of the PAC, the ILO held courtesy meetings with the DA and the DOLE on 18 and 22 March respectively. The meetings provided an opportunity to present developments in the implementation of the ILO Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Supply Chains (RISSC) Project.
There were also discussions on the status of the ongoing research on decent work and responsible business practices in aquaculture. In addition, both government agencies reaffirmed their commitment to lead as co-chairs of the PAC, noting recommendations of workers, employers and industry representatives in the committee.
FAO Philippines Representative Lionel Dabbadie joined the ILO during the courtesy call to DA as part of the United Nations’ commitment through the ILO and FAO’s to promote decent work and business sustainability with the agenda of ensuring food quality and security for all.
The DA assured its support for the ILO RISSC Project and agreed to co-chair the PAC on Aquaculture under the Office of Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate, with technical representation from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
Meanwhile, the Office of the DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma communicated to the ILO its support to co-chair, endorsing Undersecretary Benedicto Ernesto Bitonio, Jr. as its principal representative, Assistant Secretary Lennard Constantine Serrano as alternate representative, and indicating representation from the following:
The PAC will provide strategic, technical and practical guidance to the project implementation through inputs to activity design, work plans, progress reports, evaluations, among others. This is to support and promote the project, to mainstream the results of its initiatives in their respective mandate and programmes of work, and to advise on synergies with other programmes aimed at promoting decent work and responsible business practices in aquaculture supply chains.
Following the formation of the PAC, the ILO held courtesy meetings with the DA and the DOLE on 18 and 22 March respectively. The meetings provided an opportunity to present developments in the implementation of the ILO Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Supply Chains (RISSC) Project.
There were also discussions on the status of the ongoing research on decent work and responsible business practices in aquaculture. In addition, both government agencies reaffirmed their commitment to lead as co-chairs of the PAC, noting recommendations of workers, employers and industry representatives in the committee.
FAO Philippines Representative Lionel Dabbadie joined the ILO during the courtesy call to DA as part of the United Nations’ commitment through the ILO and FAO’s to promote decent work and business sustainability with the agenda of ensuring food quality and security for all.
The DA assured its support for the ILO RISSC Project and agreed to co-chair the PAC on Aquaculture under the Office of Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate, with technical representation from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
Meanwhile, the Office of the DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma communicated to the ILO its support to co-chair, endorsing Undersecretary Benedicto Ernesto Bitonio, Jr. as its principal representative, Assistant Secretary Lennard Constantine Serrano as alternate representative, and indicating representation from the following:
- National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC)
- Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC)
- Bureau of Labor Relations (BLR)
- Bureau of Local Employment (BLE)
- Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC)
- Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC), and;
- selected DOLE Regional Offices.
The PAC will provide strategic, technical and practical guidance to the project implementation through inputs to activity design, work plans, progress reports, evaluations, among others. This is to support and promote the project, to mainstream the results of its initiatives in their respective mandate and programmes of work, and to advise on synergies with other programmes aimed at promoting decent work and responsible business practices in aquaculture supply chains.
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