Government agencies and higher education institutions (HEIs) from across the country convened at the AgriDataCollab Microsummit 2025, held from April 29 and 30, 2025 at the Diamond Hotel Manila, where they discussed pressing challenges in agricultural data collection, sharing, and coordination. The event drew a total of 102 data collaborators.
Organized by the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics (DAAE) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), the microsummit strengthened collaboration among data stakeholders and enhance evidence-based decision-making in Philippine agriculture.
“Data only becomes powerful when it is accessible, well-managed, and used collaboratively,” emphasized DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora in his opening remarks on the first day of the microsummit. He highlighted AgriDataCollab's goal to rethink data governance and address pressing challenges in agricultural food systems, climate change, and sustainability. While DOST-PCAARRD has made significant progress in advancing agricultural data, there are persisting gaps and challenges where AgriDataCollab can intervene.
Assistant National Statistician Rachel C. Lacsa of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the event’s first plenary speaker, highlighted the agency’s efforts to streamline agricultural data collection, compilation, and dissemination from grassroots to national level. She noted that while the PSA continues to digitalize its systems, challenges such as limited coordination and funding persist.
DA Chief Toni Maricel Rimando followed by emphasizing the lack of reliable agricultural data hindering effective policy making. “In an era where every hectare and harvest counts, data is not optional–it is a lifeline,” remarked DA Chief Rimando while underscoring the importance of sound data in achieving food security and developing the agriculture and fisheries sector in the Philippines.
DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia concluded the session by showcasing her agency's technological initiatives in enhancing data systems in the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR) sector. “We are now at the crossroads of possibilities and responsibility. The path ahead will require commitment, coordination, and investment. But, the impact will be profound. Let us chart this path, together with the shared purpose, with open minds and with the conviction that data, when connected and mobilized, becomes one of our most powerful tools for agricultural transformation,” said Dr. Buendia, highlighting the value of cross-agency platforms in effective data management systems grounded upon research and innovation.
The first day ended with an open forum that identified data sharing barriers with key stakeholders from various agencies proposing future steps for the initiative.
The second day of the microsummit centered around a participatory workshop that encouraged representatives from the different government agencies and HEIs to collaborate and map out bottlenecks in data governance. “We are all gathering data, we need to start talking to each other,” remarked a participant. Participants identified key gaps, bottlenecks, and opportunities in the Philippines' agricultural data network.
Assistant Professor Jaymee A. Cabangbang, proponent and project leader of the AgriDataCollab Project, closed the microsummit with a strong appeal for commitment and active support from stakeholders, emphasizing their crucial role in shaping the future of data governance.
With the stakeholders now more acquainted with the pressing problems in data collection, compilation, and dissemination, sustaining the momentum for the interagency collaboration is key to achieving reliable and actionable data for the agriculture sector.