05 December 2022, CANBERRA - Rep. Mark Enverga, Chairman of the House Committee on Food and Agriculture, led a delegation composed of Rep. Eddiebong Plaza, Rep. Alfel Bascug, Rep. Bambi Emano, Rep. Jeyzel Yu, Rep. Christian Tell Yap, Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe Nograles, and Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane Jr. to meet officials in Canberra and Queensland on 29 November to 02 December 2022 and explore initiatives to enhance bilateral cooperation on soil science.

Filipino soil scientists, AusAID scholars, representatives from the Department of Science and Technology and the local government of Agusan del Sur also participated in the study visit.

In Canberra, the delegation met officials from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) led by CEO Professor Andrew Campbell, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to exchange views on shared issues and best practices on soil science, information system, strategy and policy development. Head of Delegation Rep Enverga referred to the recent meeting of President Bongbong Marcos and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the margins of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Bangkok on 19 November.

Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega met the delegation at the Official Residence and they discussed current bilateral initiatives on education, science, technology and innovation. Rep. Plaza shared the strong engagement between his province of Agusan del Sur and Australia through development projects.

The delegation visited Brisbane and met representatives from Griffith University, the University of Queensland and the Queensland State Government to learn more about soil science laboratory and field research, and best practices in linking research and policy to support agricultural productivity. ##