To position Philippine agriculture as a highly bankable sector, key stakeholders from government agencies, international and local development institutions, and private sector organizations convened for the 1st edition of the Philippines Hand-in-Hand National Investment Forum (HIH NIF) held on April 27–30, 2026 at the Ortigas Center.
“Today is not just about dialogue, it is about direction. The Philippines stands at a critical point. We are facing increasing global uncertainties from climate risk to geopolitical disruptions, but we are also presented with unprecedented opportunities, opportunities to modernize, to innovate, and most importantly, to invest with purpose,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a message read by Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary-Designate for Identified High-Value Export Crops and Agri-Fishery Export Development and Promotion Philip Young.
Organized by the DA in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (MAFAR-BARMM), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Asian Development Bank (ADB), the HIH NIF aims to present national priority commodity investment plans and secure stakeholder buy-in. The forum also intends to identify national and local concerns to align with government efforts, highlight emerging agri-fishery technologies, and foster lasting partnerships for sectoral growth.
“This forum reflects a clear message: agriculture is no longer just about production. It is about building a resilient, inclusive, and investment-ready ecosystem. We will examine how research, policies, and modernization efforts can work together to unlock the full potential of our agriculture and fisheries sector. We will discuss how to make investments not only viable but bankable, scalable, and sustainable,” the agri chief stressed.
During the forum, Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns and for Official Development Assistance (ODA) and DA Spokesperson Engr. Arnel De Mesa presented the HIH NIF featured commodities that are selected for their export orientation, private sector priority, local production strength, high market potential, and national government support. These include mango, cacao, coffee, abaca, seaweed, jackfruit, and bamboo, alongside BARMM’s identified priorities.
“The Philippine HIH NIF ensures that every investment, whether private or government-led, is directed towards the products and the regions with the greatest potential for sustainable growth,” Engr. De Mesa said.
The HIH NIF is aligned with FAO’s global HIH Initiative, which provides a strategic platform to showcase agrifood investment opportunities through a government-led, private-sector-supported framework. Using data-driven agricultural priorities and highlighting commercially viable projects, the initiative seeks to increase funding for agrifood systems transformation.
“If we truly want to support agriculture, we must then address the investment gap,” FAO Representative in the Philippines Lionel Dabbadie said, underscoring the need for stakeholders to move from intention to action.
The four-day forum featured investment dialogues, plenary sessions, bilateral meetings, and networking activities focused on agrifood systems research, policy alignment, and modernization trends toward strengthening investments in Philippine agriculture. ### (Gumamela Celes C. Bejarin-Rosas, DA-AFID)
