Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Establishment of Web-enabled Food Security Information Management System in BIMP-EAGA: A Bilateral Proposal of the Philippines with Indonesia


Elmer R. Esplana[1]
Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Department of Agriculture (DA)
Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

ABSTRACT
This study focuses on the development of a project on the establishment of a web-enabled Food Security Information Management System (FSIMS) in Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).  The project proposal was presented at the 9th BIMP-EAGA Natural Resource Development (NRD) Cluster Meeting in April 2011 in Brunei Darussalam with the intention of developing a web-enabled FSIMS for the four-member countries of BIMP-EAGA.  It was approved in the Working Group and Cluster meeting by the four member countries.  But later, during the same year the Agro-industry and Fisheries Cooperation Working Group core members suggested a piloting the project between the Philippines and the Indonesia. A bilateral proposal was submitted to Indonesia for their comments at the 10th BIMP-EAGA NRD Cluster Meeting last May 2012 in Balikpapan City, Indonesia and as part of the update of the initially presented concept paper in Brunei. The proposal was accepted in principle by Indonesian representatives in the meeting but with further comments to be submitted from the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, as their official counter proposal/comments for the bilateral proposal. In February 2012, the Phase 1 bilateral proposal of the project was submitted to the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund with the support of Mindanao Development Authority Philippine -EAGA Secretariat.  In August 2012, a notice of interest for funding the said proposal was submitted to the Department of Agriculture by the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to ASEAN through the proponent with some improvement to be prepared for re-submission. In this study, the researcher discusses developments of this BIMP-EAGA system and the challenges of initially implementing the project for both the Philippines and Indonesia, as part of the contribution of this sub-regional initiative to the ASEAN.  Based on the analysis, some related indicators on food security on the regional level should be strengthened, particularly on tracking the beginning stock based on establishments, sources of food security information and related indicators, as part of the indicators to be monitored, as integral part of the food security information management system.  The paper provides recommendations on how to fast-track the pilot implementation of the project in the Philippines and Indonesia, given the initial discussion and communications with each other on the proposed bilateral project on food security information management system. 

KEYWORDS: Food Security, Information Management System, web-enabled, bilateral, BIMP-EAGA, ASEAN, Philippines, Indonesia, NRD Cluster, Phase 1



[1] Agriculturist II, Marketing Development Division of BAI, Project Coordinator of Japan 2KR Livestock “Oksyon” Market (LOM) Rehabilitation and Modernization Project in the Philippines and Secretariat Coordinator, National Price and Volume Watch, Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Agriculture.  Presented at the Philippine Statistical Association Annual Conference, Apo View Hotel, Davao City, Philippines, August 17, 2012.