LOS ANGELES, Butuan City- To ensure the trainer’s capacity in the establishment and practice of PGS. The Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII conducted its first batch of Training of Trainers (TOT) on Participatory Guarantee System on April 18-29, 2022 at ATI Training Center, Los Angeles, Butuan City.

The training aims to create a pool of experts/trainers and to capacitate potential PGS Groups on the establishment and operations consistent with the organic agriculture standards and corresponding technical regulations. In the 10-day TOT, participants learned the salient provisions including the implementing rules and regulations of the Organic Agriculture Act as amended by RA 11511 on Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS); the organic agriculture standards, and the national list of permitted substances for organic agriculture; the general requirements and procedures for accreditation of PGS group; how to conduct of peer review and certification protocols, and how to apply the applicable current Philippine National Standards (PNS) for organic agriculture.

The 21 participants come from the province of Surigao del Norte OAP Coordinators and two Farmers Association of BACOPFA-Bayugan City and SOFA-Sibagat ADS.

In-depth training on the modules of PGS was discussed by Elena P. Madelo - OA Point Person and Leah I. Napoco - OA technical staff, both from ATI-RTC XIII. Rodolfo L. Domingo Jr, Cindy A. Burdeos, and Euniel G. Atalo, from the Department of Agriculture - Caraga Region, also served as resource persons.

It was spearheaded by the Career Development Management Services Section (CDMSS) through Ms. Elena M. Bacquiano, Training Specialist I and Organic Agriculture Program Point Person.

Its second batch will be conducted on July 11-22, 2022.