The Philippines Action Plan to Combat Desertification, Land Degradation, Drought and Poverty - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 304

the formal education curriculum at all levels and more specifically in soil and
water conservation courses in colleges and universities. This is to foster a sense
of responsibility for the state of the environment among the students of all ages.

6.2.3 Promotion of Soil and Water Conservation Measures

Intensification of soil and water conservation and drought mitigation measures
through innovative approaches in technology promotion activities such as field
days, demonstration trials and regular farmers' training. Local and internationally
funded projects are and have been implemented in the Philippines with regard to
land degradation and drought. One of these projects is the FAO funded “Integrated
Management of Salt-Affected Costal Soils in the Philippines” which aims at
developing and promoting integrated management techniques for the improvement
of salt affected coastal lands in support of the food security program in the country.

6.2.4 Policy/Legislative Efforts

Legislations have been reviewed in order to address underlying factors and crucial
issues relevant to combating land degradation and mitigating the effects of drought
in the Philippines. These legislations include the Agriculture and Fisheries Mod-
ernization Act, Balanced Fertilization Strategy, National Integrated Protected Areas
System, and Environmental Impact Assessment.

7 The National Action Plan to Combat Desertification,

Land Degradation, Drought, and Poverty (Fy 2004-2010)

Recognizing the worsening problem of land degradation and drought that is closely
linked to poverty, the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives jointly ratified
the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on February
10, 2000 and final accession came into full force in May 10, 2000.
The membership of the Philippines to the Convention and acknowledgment of the
occurrence of desertification is based on the premise that the Philippines along with
other ASEAN and tropical countries experience the emerging climatic phenomenon
attributed to the increasing recurrence cycle of El Nino and seasonal aridity or
seasonal extreme dryness.
The Philippines through its Focal Agency initiated series of consultation work-
shops and meetings to formulate the Philippine National Action Plan to Com-
bat Desertification, Land Degradation, Drought and Poverty. In 2004, the NAP
was finalized and signed by the department secretaries. The Philippine NAP
is envisioned to serve as a convergence program among the four departments:
Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture, Agrarian Reform and Science &
Technology.