DAVAO CITY – In ensuring the long-term sustainability and success of organic agriculture in the country, ATI-RTC XI conducted a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Coaching and Mentoring at Imulayan Organic Resource Center, Tugbok District on June 18-20, 2025.
To equip the Peer Review Committee, as Organic Certifying Bodies, the 15 PGS Davao Organic Farmers and Advocates Association (PGS DOFAA) with the necessary knowledge and skills to properly conduct peer review inspections of farmer-member applicants for farm certification.
As requested, the PGS DOFAA participated in the Mock Peer Review Inspections, immersing hands-on exercise gave the peer review committee practical experience in evaluating farmer-member applicants and applying organic certification standards in a guided environment, reinforcing their capacity as credible PGS Organic Certifying Bodies.
The Peer Review Committee visited two farms to evaluate their readiness for organic certification: (1) Banag-banag Permakultura Farm; and (2) Davao Care Farm.
They evaluated animal production practices at Banag-banag Permakultura, owned by Mr. Darwin Tinasas in Balengaeng, Tugbok District, Davao City. The team noted the extensive forage area, which is suitable for herd expansion. At Davao Care Farm in Tagakpan, managed by Mr. Elwyn Neri, the focus was on crop production. They highlighted the effective integration of herbs and spices alongside perennial crops, along with several additional observations.
During their Mock Peer Review Inspection, important areas that require corrective action were identified and highlighted the effective organic practices that could help farmer-member applicants achieve full compliance with PGS standards.
On the final day, participants presented the consolidated findings and recommendations gathered from the Mock Peer Review Inspections. Mr. Ariel D. Abastillas, the OAP Focal Person, led a detailed critique session.
During this session, he explained the reasons for each major and minor non-compliance issue and demonstrated how to translate those insights into clear, actionable feedback.
By showcasing best practices in documentation, stakeholder communication, and corrective action planning, Mr. Abastillas provided a hands-on tutorial. This reinforced the participants’ understanding of PGS standards and sharpened their evaluative skills for future inspections.
The session highlighted how consistent guidance can improve the performance of peer review committees, strengthen the trust of farmer members, and enhance the overall credibility of the organic certification process.
ATI-RTC XI hopes the activity inspired participants to apply their learnings and remain committed to upholding high standards in future inspections.
This is the 1st Batch of the PGS Coaching and Mentoring in the Davao Region under the Organic Agriculture Program.
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Contributor: Ariel D. Abastillas
