Philippine Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap welcomed the grant, noting that fishing and agriculture accounts for one-third of Mindanao's gross domestic product.

'Environmental risks like climate change are weighing down heavily on natural ecosystems in Mindanao on which many local communities depend,' he said. 'This is a great tragedy.'

'We will need all the help we can get for our people in the south to fully benefit from and sustain a rich biodiversity,' Yap added.