Author: ICTSadmin

Lanao del Norte | August 02, 2022 – Provincial Officer (PO) Lorna R. Sajol discussed the safe handling of pesticides and BFS during the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training for the Local Farmer Technicians (LFTs) last July 22, 2022, at Bebeth’s Casserole, Baroy, Lanao del Norte.

PO Sajol enumerated the following tips on how to handle the pesticides when in transit safely: 

• Do not carry pesticides with damaged containers. Leaky containers will cause contamination
• Load carefully. Pesticide products should be well-secured inside the vehicle
• Keep pesticides away from passengers and livestock
• Pesticides should never be transported in the same loading space as foodstuffs, animal feeds, or other goods intended for human consumption or use
• Unload pesticides with care

Moreover, the BFS program was introduced to the participants as an alternative solution to the increasing prices of fertilizers. 

BFS aims to institutionalize organic and inorganic fertilizers and other strategies (i.e. green manuring or cover cropping, individual farm soil fertility maps, diversifying and improving cropping system, etc.) to attain the maximum potential of farmlands while maintaining soil structure and fertility.

The said strategy applies the 4Rs in fertilization: Right Source, Right Placement, Right Amount, and Right Rate to help enhance soil health and productivity, prevent declining soil fertility, and improve fertilizer availability and costs.

The LFTs are the model farmers in farming communities tapped by the Department of Agriculture to complement local agricultural extension workers (AEWs) in providing technical assistance to farmers.

The training was requested by the Various Support Services (VSS) of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 and was attended by 15 LFTs from Lanao Del Norte. ###

Mlang, North Cotabato | August 02, 2022 – In coordination with the Green Crop Agri Ventures Corporation (GCAVC), the FPA RFU-XII and Bayer CropScience Philippines organized training on the safe and judicious use of pesticides for the 58 chemical handlers of GCAVC in Mlang, Cotabato, last July 22, 2022.

Provincial Officer (PO) Maricel P. Tabigue discussed the FPA’s mandates and its strategic thrusts and functions. “FPA being a technical regulatory Agency, is mandated to assure the public with adequate supplies of fertilizers and pesticides at reasonable prices. We also aim to educate the people on how to use these agricultural inputs properly,” PO Tabigue said.  

PO Jennie M. Basilio lectured on the importance of the safe handling of pesticides. She emphasized that pesticides are formulated to be toxic, and they can be dangerous if misused and mishandled. She also highlighted the following:

• All pesticides intended for commercial use in the Philippines shall be registered with FPA.
• Pesticide management focuses on maximizing the benefits of the chemical while minimizing its harmful effects.
• Importance of properly wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) 
• Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI), Maximum Residue Limits (MRL), and hazards of chemical residues to the human body.
• Triple rinsing and proper disposal of empty pesticide containers.

Mr. Allen Jay Ponce of Bayer CropScience Philippines also presented the product stewardship program. 

In addition, PO Joey B. Pascua explained the current fertilizer price situation and the reasons behind the increasing prices of fertilizers and emphasized that the Covid-19 and gas shortage significantly impacted the price trend. He also promoted the Balance Fertilization Strategy (BFS) program, which could reduce dependency on inorganic fertilizers.

The GCAVC management expressed their gratitude and commended the FPA team and Bayer CropScience Philippines for organizing the activity.

ILOCOS NORTE | August 02 – Provincial Officer (PO) Noel M. Tablada discussed the safe handling of pesticides and spray calibration during the DA-PhilRice’s RCEF – Rice Extension Services Program (RESP) on July 28, 2022, at PhilRice Gallery, NTA Bldg., Brgy. Tabug Batuc City, Ilocos Norte. 

PO Tablada discussed the importance of safe handling of pesticides emphasizing the following points:

• Pesticides are formulated to be toxic
• Pesticides can be dangerous if they are misused and handled wrongly
• Safe and effective handling and use of pesticides should be the concern of everyone
• Minimizing exposing oneself and the environment to the unwanted effects of pesticides

He also discussed the concept of calibration. Calibration is the process of determining the amount of spray solution delivered by specific equipment. This can be expressed on a “per minute” or “per unit area” by a spray man or individual who will be using the same equipment when applying pesticides in the field. This is important because this is part of calculating the desired dilution rates to meet a recommended dosage. 

A total of thirty-five (35) participants attended the training. They comprised agricultural extension workers (AEWs) and farm school owners from Region I. ###

Tantangan, South Cotabato | July 30, 2022– The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Regional Field Unit-XII, in coordination with the Agway Chemical Corporation, conducted a mango contractor training in Tantangan, South Cotabato, last July 28, 2022.

Provincial Officer (PO) Cherubin M. Alonzo discussed the FPA mandates and their functions. He also tackled Executive Order (EO) No. 522, covering the FPA rules and regulations governing the mango industry and the acquisition of use of nitrates.

Potassium Nitrate (KNO₃) has inherent qualities beneficial to flower-inducing for mango and other crops. However, KNO₃ and other nitrates are substances that are found to be potentially carcinogenic and can be used for explosives. Therefore, importation, sale, possession, and use of these chemicals are restricted and subject to strict supervision by the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Further, PO Jennie M. Basilio discussed the importance of the safe handling of pesticides. She emphasized that pesticides are formulated to be toxic, and they can be dangerous if misused and mishandled.

Fifty-six (56) mango growers from the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato participated in the training. The training taught the participants how to properly use potassium nitrate as a mango flower inducer and deepened their understanding of the safe and judicious use of fertilizers and pesticides.

The newly trained participants are expected to apply for their FPA License to Operate (LTO) as mango flower inducer and submit their application to the nearest FPA office. ###

CEBU CITY | August 01, 2022 – FPA Region VII conducted an orientation on the Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS) to 48 sweet corn and vegetable farmers in Sitio Luyo, Barangay Adlaon, Cebu City, on July 27, 2022.

Regional Officer (RO) Arnulfo Arausa, Jr. gave an overview of the activity and stressed the importance of BFS and how it can minimize production costs while improving crop quality.

BFS is a program that includes the FPA and other DA agencies involved in farming. The idea of the program is to institutionalize the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers and other forms of strategies (i.e., green manuring or cover cropping, individual farm soil fertility maps, diversifying and improving cropping system, etc.) to attain the maximum potential of farmlands while maintaining soil structure and fertility.

Provincial Officer (PO) Andy Cornell Bornillo emphasized the concept of 4Rs in fertilization: Right Source, Right Placement, Right Amount, and Right Rate to help enhance soil health and productivity, prevent the decline in soil fertility, and improve fertilizer availability and costs.

On the other hand, PO Sunday Flores discussed the Agency’s mandates and functions. PO Flores also reminded the farmers that they should buy fertilizers and pesticides from the FPA licensed dealers only to ensure the quality of the product.

Lastly, PO Jesus Muring shared the proper and safe handling of pesticides. “Pesticides help us produce more food and reduce food waste. However, it can be dangerous if misused,” PO Muring said. ###

QUEZON CITY | July 29, 2022 – To evaluate the conformity and effectiveness of the implementation of the FPA-Quality Management System, the FPA Internal Quality Audit (IQA) team headed by Ms. Suzettie Alcaide, together with the 38 auditors, conducted its planned audit based on their approved audit program from July 13 to 27, 2022 via blended approach. 

The scope of the audit includes the FPA-Quality Management System on issuing licenses, registrations, and permits for fertilizer, pesticide, and other agricultural chemicals covering from July 24, 2021 until July 22, 2022. Audit criteria were based on ISO 9001:2015, ISO/IEC 17025:2017, and ISO 19011:2018 standards, applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, and FPA’s policies, procedures, and guidelines.

The auditors classified their findings as positive, including best practices, an Opportunity for Improvement (OFI), and Non-Conformity (NC). NCs are given to the process owners who fail to follow the standards indicated in the ISO standards.

The IQA team concluded the two-week audit with fifty-one (51) NCs, which is 150% higher than the previous audit findings conducted in 2021. Although there was a notable increase in the number of NCs, the team attributed to the improvement of the audit procedure and longer duration of auditing per process. 

NCs were issued to the process owners through Non-Conformity Corrective Action Report (NCAR) form within 24 hours after the audit. The accomplished NCAR shall be returned to the auditor within five (5) working days upon receipt. The auditor shall verify the immediate corrective action, the root cause analysis, and the implementation of corrective actions based on the agreed date indicated in the NCAR form. 

The team commended the FPA Management and all the process owners for their commitment to continually improving the FPA QMS, demonstrated by actively cooperating with the IQA team during the internal audit. 

Despite the NCs, the FPA Management acknowledged the result of the internal audit and pledged to take necessary actions to address these findings and commit to continual improvement. ###