FAO, Philippine partners celebrate World Soil Day 2020; underscore essence of soil to humanity
Celebration highlighted �the essence of soil to humans, the mother of agriculture, where we grow our food, where soil is always one with nature".
FAO Philippines and the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM) led this year’s celebration of World Soils Day (WSD) with the theme “Keep Soil Alive, Protect Soil Biodiversity” with a commemorative event held at the BSWM Compound in Quezon City on 4 December. BSWM is the country’s mandated agency and FAO’s main partner on sustainable management of soils and water resources for agriculture. The agency advocates good soil conservation technologies and practices to improve soil health in various regions of the country.
Highlighting the event is the signing of the declaration of support to the "Philippine Celebration of World Soil Day" every 5th of December. This declaration shall be endorsed to the Office of the President to advocate for financial support to the Philippine Soil Partnership through DA-BSWM.
As part of local celebrations of WSD, DA-BSWM organized a nationwide photography contest to promote this year’s theme as well as to create awareness of the importance of soil to national food security and development. This year’s winners are Mr. Keirvy Jhon P. Lao (1st place); Mr. Mark Kevin Badayos (2nd place); Mr. Christian T. Galgao (3rd place); and Mr. Arwin O. Arribado for the “People’s Choice Award”.
Guests of honor during the event included DA Undersecretary for Operations Engr. Ariel T. Cayanan and Ms. Jasmine Magtibay representing FAO Philippines. Video Messages were given by Ms. Tamara Palis-Duran, Assistant FAO Representative for Programmes; Hon. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco, Speaker of the House of Representatives; and the Hon. Senator Cynthia A. Villar, Senate Committee Chair on Agriculture and Food.
At the afternoon session of the day-long WSD event during which special technical discussions were held, presentations included Overview of the National Soil Conservation Roadmap presented by Engr. Samuel M. Contreras, Chief of the Soil Conservation and Management Division; Revised World Soil Charter and the Challenges in the Philippines, Dr. Edna D. Samar, Chief of the Soil and Water Resources Research Division; and Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management, Ms. Jacqueline S. Rojales, Section Chief, Soil Biological Resources Management Section.
DA-BSWM OIC-Assistant Director Junel B. Soriano thanked each and every one who took part in the success of the celebration and stressed the line agency’s continued commitment and support to the nation’s agricultural development through its mandate.
During the event, delegates and participants observed the minimum health and safety requirements related to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 as directed by the national government.
The observance of WSD was first recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002 as an international day to celebrate soil and its vital role in agriculture and food security. Under the leadership of the Kingdom of Thailand and within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership, FAO has supported the formal establishment of WSD as a global awareness raising platform. The FAO Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013 and requested its official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly. In December 2013, the UN General Assembly responded by designating 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soils Day.