Press Release

PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE DELEGATION MEETS OFFICIALS OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MIDWEST REGIONAL OFFICE TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES

Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra (standing, 5th from left) and Consul General J. Susana V. Paez (3rd from left) pose with officials of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Midwest Regional Office led by Administrator Vista Suarez Fletcher (standing, 6th from left) and other Philippine officials. (Photo: USDA MWRO FNS)

24 April 2024 (Chicago) - A delegation from the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA), together with officials from the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago, met with officials of the US Department of Agriculture Midwest Regional Office on 17 April 2024 at the federal building on 77 West Jackson Boulevard in downtown Chicago.

Led by DA Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, and Agriculture Counsellor Lupiño Lazaro, Jr., the seven-person delegation was accompanied by Consul General J. Susana V. Paez and Consul Ryan Francis Gener.

They met USDA Midwest Regional Administrator Vista Suarez Fletcher, Deputy Regional Administrator Jacob Hoots, Public Affairs Director Alan Shannon, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Branch Chief Kahla Leggett, who all form part of the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

Regional Administrator Fletcher and Director Shannon provided an overview of the US Department of Agriculture, the structure and role of FNS, and key programs such as SNAP, FNS food distribution programs (The Emergency Food Assistant Program (TEFAP) and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)), Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program, Farm to School Program, Farmers Market Nutrition Program, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

In turn, Secretary Guevarra conveyed a summary of the DA’s KADIWA program, a marketing initiative implemented through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance (AMAS) which seeks to empower the farming community by providing a direct and effective farm-to-consumer food supply chain. The program seeks to provide Metro Manila residents access to quality, safe and affordable agri-fishery products, and to eliminate as many marketing layers, allowing producers to earn bigger from directly selling their produce instead of using trader-intermediaries.

Branch Chief Leggett and DA Market Development Division OIC-Chief Joyce Bengo also shared notes on the pilot implementation of the Philippine food stamp program and the operationalization of SNAP, which is America’s largest nutrition assistance program providing benefits to low-income families.

After the introductory meeting, both sides expressed interest in continuing to exchange information and explore initiatives to learn best practices on nutrition assistance programs and supporting small farmers and resilient local food systems, through the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC – Office of the Agriculture Counsellor and the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago. END

Philippine and USDA officials listen intently as Director Shannon (right) discusses programs of the Food and Nutrition Service. (Photo: DA/Marlon Rufo)

(L-R) Branch Chief Kahla Leggett, Regional Administrator Fletcher, Public Affairs Director Alan Shannon, Deputy Regional Administrator Jacob Hoots, Assistant Secretary Guevarra, and Consul General Paez pose after Assistant Secretary Guevarra handed Director Shannon a token of appreciation. (Photo: DA/Marlon Rufo)