KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — Lake Sebu is gaining global recognition as the first community in the Philippines to join the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations’ global network of FAO Villages, a designation expected to strengthen its position as a destination for Indigenous culture, nature-based tourism, and sustainable rural development.
Municipal Tourism Officer Jennifer Tupas said the recognition affirms Lake Sebu’s efforts to protect its natural and cultural heritage while advancing community-led initiatives for sustainable development.
“Aside from strengthening the community-led efforts to conserve traditional rice varieties, it will also become an invaluable part of Lake Sebu’s agricultural and cultural heritage,” Tupas said.
He added that the initiative is aligned with the municipality’s direction of becoming one of the country’s leading destinations for cultural and sustainable tourism.
Located in Sitio El Lumet, Barangay Luhib, Lake Sebu, the FAO Village has strengthened community-led efforts to conserve 102 traditional rice varieties—an invaluable part of the area’s agricultural and cultural heritage.
Through the establishment of community seed banks, participatory rice breeding, and improved seed conservation technologies, the village has developed a sustainable system for protecting and preserving these traditional varieties, ensuring that they continue to support food security, climate resilience, and the livelihoods of future generations.
The FAO recognized Lake Sebu’s conservation of forests and biodiversity, preservation of traditional rice varieties, and continued practice of Indigenous knowledge by the T’boli and Ubo-Manobo communities.
It also acknowledged the municipality’s efforts to connect its rural heritage with education, hospitality, and tourism, allowing environmental conservation and local economic development to advance together.
FAO Representative in the Philippines Lionel Dabbadie underscored the global significance of the recognition.
“Some places are recognized for what they have achieved. Others are recognized because they hold solutions the world urgently needs. Lake Sebu is both,” Dabbadie said.
The designation reflects years of collaboration among Indigenous communities, the Lake Sebu local government, the Provincial Government of South Cotabato, national government agencies, academic institutions, and development partners in safeguarding the municipality’s cultural and environmental resources.
As one of more than 300 recognized communities in the FAO’s global network, Lake Sebu is expected to attract more visitors interested in Indigenous culture and nature-based tourism while strengthening its position as a model for sustainable tourism, agricultural conservation, and heritage protection.
