On 28 January 2026, the Philippines Department of Health (DOH) joined forces with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to craft and finalize the first country’s first comprehensive Food Safety Crisis Management Plan. Led by the Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety Regulation Coordinating Board (FSRCB), the collaboration highlights the critical need for enhanced food safety systems in the Philippines.
It is estimated that 9 million people in the Philippines suffer from foodborne illnesses annually, leading to significant productivity losses and thousands of deaths. These challenges are intensified by the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters — around 20 typhoons each year — that amplify the spread of food-borne illnesses, such as diarrhoeal diseases. Emergencies place immense pressure on food supply chains, making food safety a core component of emergency preparedness and health security.
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Mr Timothy Mendoza of FDA responded to some issues raised by participants in the first draft of the Food Safety Crisis Management Plan. Photo Credit: FDA
Translating strategy into action
Putting in place a National Food Safety Crisis Management Plan was a key recommendation from the Philippines’ most recent Joint External Evaluation of International Health Regulations capacities and it should enable coordinated crisis management during food safety emergencies, such as FDA-led rapid recalls of contaminated food products across government agencies and local government units, and clear public advisories to prevent illness.
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Atty. Paolo S. Teston, FDA Director General, delivers his opening message for the workshop. Photo Credit: FDA
Reiterating the importance of this approach, Atty. Paolo S. Teston, FDA Director General, shared: “A single lapse in compliance can result in outbreaks, economic losses, erosion of public trust, and preventable suffering. This is why the National Food Safety Crisis Management Plan must move from policy to practice, from commitment to consistent action. For us in the FDA, the urgency is real, but so is the opportunity. It is also clear that our focus is to build a food safety system that is not only science-based but also people-centred, future-ready, and rooted in public trust.”
Thanking the Government for its commitment, Dr Eunyoung Ko, Acting WHO Representative to the Philippines, shared: “These efforts testify to the strong leadership and commitment of the Philippine Department of Health towards strengthening food safety preparedness and response, including during emergencies. We are grateful for support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office which has enabled these efforts and is a strong example of global solidarity to keep us all safer.”
From silos to solidarity
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Participants of the Workshop from various agencies of the government. Photo Credit: FDA
Given the cross-cutting nature of foodborne health risks, participants from across sectors and areas of expertise – from health to agriculture – were convened and consulted during the development of the Philippines’ Food Safety Crisis Management Plan. Participants engaged in technical discussions focused on shared standards and cohesive response mechanisms. This whole-of-government, multisectoral approach eliminates silos between agencies, enables timely sharing of data and information, and ultimately saves lives.
Noting the value of this approach, Mr Samuel L. Fontanilla from the Department of Agriculture, a participant, shared: “I saw how this multisectoral approach breaks down silos. Sitting together with regulators, responders, and technical experts meant we could align our actions, share information faster, and be better prepared to protect Filipinos during food safety emergencies.”
WHO and partners will now support DOH to consolidate input from all stakeholders and collaborators, enabling formal endorsement of the National Food Safety Crisis Management Plan, and subsequent implementation. The Philippines thus edges closer to a future where food safety isn’t just a regulation — it’s an ironclad promise.