Author: ICTSadmin

August 6, 2025 | Quezon City – 58 Personnel from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) attended the “Orientation and User Training on the Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI)” on August 6 at the FPA Building, BAI Compound, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. 

The training aimed to equip FPA personnel with essential knowledge on the country’s digital communications encryption system, which is increasingly being adopted by government agencies nationwide.

The PNPKI, being managed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), was widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the government’s transition to more secure and digital operations. 

It provides encryption and digital security mechanisms that protect documents and messages, enabling more secure internal and external communications among government personnel and agencies.

Through this system, each user is assigned a unique digital certificate containing institutional information, position, and an electronic signature, along with designated encryption keys. These identifiers enhance digital security, ensure user accountability, and support the integrity of official communications.

To access any encrypted document or message, personnel must complete a dual-verification process using their assigned digital key and certificate—effectively preventing unauthorized access.

Three DICT experts including PNPKI Registration Authority Lead Jennifer Canlas, PNPKI Support Team Lead John Recto, and PNPKI Registration Authority Officer Loyd Santiago served as resource speakers. They led the orientation and assisted in enrolling 39 endorsed permanent officers from the FPA Central Office into the PNPKI system. These participants received their respective digital credentials for future use in official online regulatory and administrative documents.

FPA Executive Director Glenn DC. Estrada expressed full support for the agency’s integration of PNPKI and welcomed the move toward secure and streamlined communication.

“This is for all of us who are part of an increasingly digital government, especially now that we are putting more effort into digitalizing. We will start with the digitalization of our regulatory services, until we eventually cover our administrative processes,” he said. 

“Marami pa tayong gagawin, this is just the start.”

Writer: Fernando Pierre Dela Cruz

  Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Online ISSN: 2815-1674
  Published by the FPA Information and Communications Team

June 2025 | Quezon City — In line with its commitment to uphold quality and safety standards amid emerging agricultural innovations such as drone-assisted application and biofertilizer use, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) conducted a two-part training series on ISO/IEC 17025:2017 to strengthen laboratory competency and regulatory reliability.

The training series, held at the FPA Central Office Convention Hall in Quezon City, was designed to build technical capacity among key FPA personnel involved in laboratory testing, field regulation, and compliance monitoring. Attendees included staff from the Laboratory Services Division (LSD), Pesticide Regulations Division (PRD), Fertilizer Regulations Division (FRD), Field Operations and Coordination Unit (FOCU), and the Planning, Management, and Information Division (PMID).

In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry – Philippine Trade Training Center (DTI-PTTC), the sessions were facilitated by expert resource persons Ms. Narcel Merano and Engr. Helen P. Subradil.

The first session, “ISO/IEC 17025:2017 – The Standard for Laboratory Competence,” was held on June 4, 2025. It introduced participants to the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, focusing on key elements such as impartiality, confidentiality, structural framework, resource requirements, and management system options.

The second session, “ISO/IEC 17025:2017 – Laboratory Internal Audit,” took place from June 26 to 27, 2025. This module focused on internal audit practices aligned with the standard. Participants learned how to conduct various types of audits, document findings, address nonconformities, and apply root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies. Interactive workshops and case-based activities were integrated to enhance practical skills in conducting effective internal audits.

“These training initiatives are part of our continuous efforts to ensure that our laboratories maintain the highest standards of quality and reliability in testing fertilizers and pesticides,” said Dr. Jerolet C. Sahagun, Chief of the FPA Laboratory Services Division. 

“By equipping our personnel with internationally recognized competencies, we reinforce stakeholder trust and regulatory credibility, she added.” ###

Writer: Sharmaine Tecson

  Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Online ISSN: 2815-1674
  Published by the FPA Information and Communications Team

May 29, 2025 | Quezon City – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) conducted a three-day training on Applied Geotagging Technology (AGT) and Geographic Information System (GIS) from May 27 to 29, 2025.

The training aimed to strengthen the agency’s monitoring and regulatory functions by equipping personnel with practical skills in geospatial technologies, particularly for tracking and supervising fertilizer and pesticide handlers nationwide.

The training was attended by personnel from the operating units at the Central Office and the Regional Field Units (RFUs). Participants held diverse technical positions such as Agriculturists, Provincial Officers, Chemists, Information System Analysts, Planning Officers, and Administrative staff—all integral to the agency’s operational mandates.

Participants were introduced to AGT and GIS concepts through a combination of lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Modules included the use of the DA-GeoCamera mobile application, mapping through Google Maps, and basic training on GPS technology and Quantum GIS software.

A key component of the training was a field application, where five participant teams were deployed to various government sites in Quezon City to capture geotagged images using mobile devices. This exercise enabled real-time application of geospatial methods and reinforced collaborative fieldwork skills.

To sustain and deepen technical proficiency, the FPA identified next steps including: advanced GIS training, creation of video-based learning materials, enhanced central-regional coordination, and the establishment of a dedicated support system for ongoing geomapping initiatives. The integration of real-world datasets into future sessions was also recommended to enhance realism and relevance.

“This training marks another milestone in FPA’s digital transformation,” said FPA Executive Director Glenn DC. Estrada. “By empowering our personnel with modern tools, we are improving our ability to deliver responsive, transparent, and data-driven public service to Filipino farmers and agri-businesses.”

Writer: Edward Calapatia

  Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Online ISSN: 2815-1674
  Published by the FPA Information and Communications Team