ALANGALANG, Leyte –RA 11511 was enacted to recognize the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) as an option for organic certification. Further, Section 14, item (g) Trainings and Inspection, provides that: “The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) shall, in close coordination with the BAFS, make available the required training program on organic agriculture standards and processes for PGS groups applying for BAFS accreditation. The BAFS shall conduct random inspections to ensure that PGS groups are all compliant with the PNS for organic agriculture. The BAFS shall keep a record of compliant PGS groups in the country and shall publish a list of such compliance at least once a year.”
In support to this mandate, ATI conducted a ten-day blended training program as a preparatory activity for the certification and further accreditation of PGS. It aims to capacitate the participants on the establishment and operation of PGS groups consistent with the organic agriculture standards and corresponding technical regulations.
The training discussed five modules, namely: 1) Organic Agriculture Act, its amendments, and the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR); 2) Organic Agriculture Standards and the National List of Permitted Substances for Organic Agriculture; 3) Establishment and Operation of Participatory Guarantee System; 4) Accreditation of Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Groups as Organic Certifying Bodies; and 5) Peer Review and Certification Protocols.
Reynaldo Masamong, one of the training participants, shared on his insights and commitment. “In this training, I learned a lot and realized the government's objective of promoting organic farming in the country. I also learned the importance of organic farming and raising organic crops for our health and preservation of our environment. I also realized the adverse effect of using synthetic pesticides and fertilizer to our ecosystem. I commit myself to this PGS program and work on the conversion of my small farm following the minimum PGS standard. I am looking forward to passing organic certification.”
Participants have agreed to complete the documents needed for the certification and practice peer reviewing for five farmers on March 2022 and onwards. Meanwhile, the Municipal Agriculture Office will push through with the creation of Local Technical Committee on Organic Agriculture on the 1st Quarter of 2022 (for Alangalang Group). Further, a conduct of Lakbay-Alay to the third party certified farmer in Leyte is already in the pipeline.
A total of 24 participants from Son of the Living God Multi-sectoral United Farmers’ Association and Alangalang Agripreneurs and Services Farmers Association completed the Training on Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) for Farmer Groups (Blended) B1 on February 14-19 and February 21-26, 2022 in Alangalang and La Paz, Leyte, respectively.
