Officers and members of the Kayapa Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group of Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya officially received their Participatory Organic Certificate and Accreditation Certificate today at the 17th National Organic Agriculture Congress (NOAC) being held at University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, Cotabato on March 21-24, 2023.
The group was accompanied by Kayapa Mayor Elizabeth D. Balasya, Municipal Agriculturist Rufin D. Fernandez, ATI-RTC 02 Center Director Imelda M. Guillermo, ATI-RTC 02 OAP Focal Person Dr. Anna Liza S. Claveron, Engr. Monico Castro Jr of DA-RFO 02 and other officials.
The Kayapa PGS Group is now authorized to provide organic certification services particularly on animal and crop production to their farmer-members. Kayapa PGS group underwent 10-day Training on Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) for the Organic Implementers and Identified PGS Organization last November 22-December 3, 2021. They also went through Pre-inspection by PGS TWG of Region 2 and Training/workshop on Farm Planning and Record Keeping last June 14-16, 2022 and Enhancement Training on Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) with the guidance of ATI-RTC 2 and Organic Agriculture Program – Department of Agriculture RFO 2 last December 28-29, 2022.
Moreover, the Core PGS group farmer-members of the five accredited participatory guarantee system organic certifying bodies were recognized during the NOAC. They are Rowena D. Fernandez, Juna C. Codnita, Monchita M. Mendoza, Taning B. Nileng, Francisca B. Segundo and Omar H. Ventura.
The KAYAPA PGS GROUP is the third (3rd) group in the Philippines, second (2nd) in Luzon, and first (1st) in Cagayan Valley (Region 2) to be accredited by the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standard (BAFS).
