Category: Articles

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE | May 20, 2022 – As part of the Farmers and Fisherfolks Month celebration, DA RFO-9 organized a Rice Information Caravan on 18 May 2022 at Godod, Zamboanga del Norte. One hundred rice farmers from the several barangays of the municipality attended the event.

The goal of the caravan was to enlighten and update the farmers on the Department’s many initiatives, programs, and services that they might use during the current and future growing seasons.

During the caravan, FPA Zamboanga Peninsula through its Provincial Officer Dionn Mark Bohol explained to the farmers the reasons attributed to the high prices of fertilizer and the current scenario of the fertilizer industry. He also encouraged farmers to adopt the Balance Fertilization Strategy (BFS) and not rely much on using traditional fertilizer to maximize yield while minimizing input cost.

Various IEC materials and biological control samples were also distributed to the farmers present.

Present during the event were the DA Region 9 Farmer Director Leonardo Caparida, who led the activity, DA 9 Rice Action Officer Evelyn Academia, and Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer of Zamboanga del Norte George Vallente, RCPC, ILD, DA 9 Information Team, and Municipal Agriculturist & Staff.

Several DA-affiliated organizations, such as the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), National Food Authority (NFA), and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), were also present and updated the farmers on their programs and services. ###

Photo courtesy: DA Zampen

DAVAO CITY, DAVAO DEL NORTE | MAY 19, 2022 – The Pesticide Regulatory Division (PRD), headed by Deputy Executive Director (DED) Eric Divinagracia, visited three (3) pesticide handlers in Davao Region. Regional Officer Marrisa Napalit, together with the Provincial Officers Louie Palarao and Cheery Agrade led the PRD team to a pesticide repacking plant located in Brgy. Mahayag, Bunawan District, Davao City and two pesticide extrusion plants in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

The pesticide plants and chemical mixing facilities were found compliant with the Good Housekeeping, industrial hygiene, safety and security, and environmental protection standards and protocols set by FPA.

DED Divinagracia also highlighted the importance of documenting each processes as compliance with the ISO standards.

The companies committed to continue practicing the proper protocols and abide with the FPA standards as recommended by the audit team. ###

CAGAYAN | May 12, 2022 – The FPA Cagayan Valley discussed the Responsible Use of Agricultural Pesticides (RUAP) and Pesticides Resistance Management (PRM) to more than 100 agriculture students at Cagayan State University (CSU) Lallo Campus, Sta. Maria, Lallo, Cagayan, with the faculty and staff of the College of Agriculture on May 11, 2022.

The seminar was to emphasize the significance of the safe and judicious use of pesticides, interpret pesticide labels, identify signs and symptoms of pesticide poisoning, and develop a pesticide resistance management strategy. Balance Fertilization Strategy (BFS) was another topic of discussion.

“Pesticides are toxic, hazardous, and poisonous. It is harmful if it is misused and mishandled. But when used properly, it will give you a good outcome and high income”, Provincial Officer (PO) Henry Cayaban, Jr. said during his lecture on Safe Handling of Pesticides.

PO Cayaban, Jr. also discussed the causes of the national fertilizer price increase. He listed the reasons, including the COVID – 19 pandemic, the war between Ukraine and Russia, the rise in fuel prices, and the increase in transportation and logistics costs.

Meanwhile, PO Arwin Cardenas discussed the importance of determining pesticide poisoning and pesticide resistance management signs and symptoms. He elaborated on knowing the symptoms and the first aid to apply when a poisoning case occurs in the field.

During the discussion of pesticide resistance development, PO Cardenas emphasized the reasons for developing pesticide resistance, including failure to comply with the label, failure to incorporate IPM in farming, and repeatedly using single-use pesticides.

Dr. Florante Victor Balatico, CEO CSU Lallo Campus, and Dr. Maribel Fernandez, Dean College of Agriculture, thanked FPA for accommodating and sharing lessons with the agricultural students. The university hopes that the students will apply the learnings someday. ###

BENGUET | May 11, 2022 – FPA-CAR Regional Officer Rogelio B. Tanguid and Benguet Officer Rowena F. Billig discussed the safe and effective use of fertilizer and pesticide products during the seminar on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) held on April 28 and May 10 in Camp 3, Tuba, Benguet.

Other invited speakers for the two-day activity are the Benguet Provincial GAP focal person Inocencio Bernard, who discussed to the requirements and farm lay out on GAP; and personnel from Tuba Municipal Risk Reduction and Management Office who discussed general first aid management including pesticide poisoning management.

The training aimed to educate farmers on ways to reduce contamination of their produce. The GAP training helped in improving sanitary conditions and minimizing spoilage or transport damage. Participants also learned proper responses to prevent accidents, illness and maintain proper hygiene.

The activity was co-organized by the MLGU of Tuba through its Municipal Agriculture Office and BLGU of Camp 3, Tuba, Benguet. In addition, Philex Mining Corporation’s Sustainable Development Management Project sponsored the GAP seminar (SDMP) sessions. The activity was beneficial to a total of forty-one (41) farmers.

The participants are expected to submit their application for GAP certification at the OMAg Tuba for pre-assessment, provision of administrative assistance, and inspection of farms. If the farmers would attain 85% compliance, OMAg will endorse them to OPAg for further assessment. Farmers who achieve 95% compliance in OPAg assessment shall be forwarded to the National GAP team headed by BPI for final inspection.

DAVAO DEL NORTE | MAY 10, 2022 – Forty-one (41) mango contractors and growers from Samal City and other nearby provinces attended the first wave of FPA Davao Region’s (RFU 11) Mango Contractors Training held at Camp Holiday Resort, Island Garden City of Samal.

The training is designed to lecture handlers on the correct use of potassium nitrate as mango flower inducer and develop the awareness of the safe and judicious use of fertilizers and pesticides (Fertilizer Regulatory Policies and Implementing Guidelines, p. 72). 

FPA’s Deputy Director for Pesticide Eric Divinagracia and Regional Officer Marrisa Napalit, along with the City Agriculture’s Office representative Jimuel Rebigan, welcomed the participants and gave them an overview of the training.

Provincial Officers Cheery Agrade and Rustom Gain Tanduyan discussed PD 1144, including the creation, duties, and responsibilities of FPA. They also tackled EO 522 covering the FPA rules and regulations governing the mango industry, acquisition of use of nitrates, and recognition & first aid management on pesticide poisoning cases.

International Veterinary and Agrochemicals Inc (IVA) discussed the remaining technical topics, including plant nutrition, the correct use of mango flower inducer, cultural practices, insect pests, disease management, pesticide information, classification, and safe use in mango production.

FPA collaborated with IVA and the Island Garden City of Samal – City Agriculture Office to conduct the activity. The newly trained participants will be eligible to apply for a License to Operate (LTO). ###

DIPOLOG CITY | May 2, 2022 – To strengthen partnership with stakeholders in promoting safe and responsible use of agricultural pesticides, FPA Zamboanga Peninsula conducted a seminar participated by pesticide company Field Technicians and Representative assigned in Zamboanga del Norte last April 28, 2022.

The main purpose of the activity is to orient companies’ frontline workers on FPA mandates and functions and at the same time give updates on some of the Agency’s guidelines, especially on Product Stewardship.

Provincial Officer (PO) Paulyne Kim Alfuente discussed and presented the role of FPA, its core mandates, and its functions. PO Charlie Limbag discussed the General Information on Pesticides including MoA Labelling.

On the other hand, Regional Officer (RO) Alex Paalisbo shared some important points about Insect Resistance Management (IRM). While PO Michael Tuico discussed Product Stewardship and Post Registration activities which included the do’s and don’ts during field promotional activities.

The technicians were also given a pre-test and post-test to assess their knowledge and learnings after the activity. All major topics were cited from FPA Pesticide Regulatory Policies and Implementing Guidelines also known as the Green Book.

Socialization through basketball friendship games was also organized on the same day to build and create camaraderie among field workers.

The event will be recreated in other provinces of Zamboanga Peninsula to focus on orienting technicians in FPA processes.

DAVAO CITY | April 28, 2022 – The FPA Davao Region (RFU 11) was invited by the Department of Agriculture Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) as a resource speaker for GAP training on Vegetable Production held last April 8, 2022, at the Food Terminal Inc., Daliao, Toril, Davao City.

Thirty (30) farmers participated in the seminar. FPA Provincial Officer (PO) Louie Palarao discussed two (2) GAP modules specifically Environmental Management and Workers’ Health, Safety and Welfare.

For his discussion of Environmental Management, PO Palarao tackled the potential environmental hazards or negative environmental impacts that occur on and off the property as a result of the production, harvesting, and postharvest handling of fruits and vegetables.

For Worker’s Health, Safety, and Welfare, he pointed out steps to managing the risk of hazards to worker health, safety, and welfare by assisting in the identification and assessment of the risk, as well as controlling, monitoring, and reviewing the hazards.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 11 and the Davao City Agriculture Office also join forces in the said event.

Sources:

Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards. (2021). Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Fruits and Vegetable Farming – Code of Practice. http://www.bafs.da.gov.ph/bafs_admin/admin_page/pns_file/PNS%20Good%20Agricultural%20Practices%20…

Jollibee Group Foundation. (2019). Administrative Circular No. 1 s 2018: Manual on Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP). https://www.jollibeefoundation.org/public/assets/pdf/publications/02%20-%20PhilGAP%20Manual.pdf

Department of Agriculture. (2018, January 16). Rules and Regulations on the Certification of Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) for Crops, superseding Administrative Circular No. 10 Series 2013. https://www.da.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ac01_s2018.pdf

DAVAO REGION| April 27, 2022 – Thirteen (13) establishments were issued a notice of violation (NoV) during the clean-up drive operation in Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental on April 19-20, 2022 for selling fertilizer and pesticide products without a license to operate.  These establishments were advised to obtain a permit and accreditation from the agency and attend the ASD training.

Led by Supervising Agriculturist of FPA Region XI, Marrisa Napalit, there were four (4) dealers and dealer-repackers in New Bataan, four (4) in Davao de Oro’s Maragusan, and five (5) in Lupon, Davao Oriental were issued the said NoVs.

Moreover, Stop Use, Move, Sale (SUMS) orders were issued to three (3) establishments for selling unregistered and even expired agricultural inputs. The FPA has confiscated 400 items in total.

A clean-up drive operation is a regular enforcement activity in the field to determine whether fertilizer and pesticide handlers and the products they sell to the public and the warehouses comply with existing FPA rules and regulations.

Dinapigue, Isabela | April 28, 2022 – FPA Region 02, headed by Mr. Leonardo A. Bangad, Regional Officer, conducted training on responsible use of agricultural pesticides in Brgys. of Bukal Norte and Dibulo, Dinapigue, Isabela on April 27 and 28, 2022, respectively in collaboration with the municipal government thru its municipal agriculture office and Meljay Agribusiness Corp. and Tagchem Dragon Diatribution Inc.

The said training was attended by 44 rice and vegetable farmers coming from different barangays. It was noted that the municipality has a total agricultural land of 470 hectares (ha) composed of a rice area (250 ha), vegetables (20 ha), and 200 ha for coconut. However,  the main source of income of the community is through fishing because Dinapigue is a coastal municipality of Isabela.

It was discussed to the farmers the importance of following the direction in the label, practicing good agricultural practices, integrated pest management (IPM) and pesticide poisoning cases, and first aid management.

Mr. Sannyfel L. Nieves, Municipal Agriculturist, thanked the FPA region 02 for initiating this activity. The participants were also thankful for the information imparted to them. As a parting message, Mr. Nieves assured the farmers of more training like this and requested the FPA Region 02 to assist, support, and help inform their farmers.

In response, Mr. Bangad assured that FPA will always ready and available to conduct another training like this as it is one of the FPA’s prime mandates; to educate the farmers.

BULA, CAMARINES SUR | April 26, 2022 – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) – Regional Field Unit V (RFU 5) pushed for Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS) during the 14th National Rice Technology Forum on April 19-22, 2022.

Over 3,300 farmers, rice program implementers, and delegates from across the country attended the event.

Regional Officer Gabriel B. Atole focused his discussion on the Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS) Program which is an FPA’s Commitment to the OneDA Agenda for Food Security. FPA was tasked to enhance crop production and increase income for rice farmers through the efficient use of fertilizer and other agricultural inputs. He emphasized that with BFS implementation would:

• Reduce reliance on inorganic fertilizer
• Improve soil fertility and structure through appropriate combination of inorganic and organic fertilizer
• Encourage local manufacturers to resort to non-traditional fertilizers

This strategy will lower the price of fertilizer as the Filipino farming community would be less dependent to imported fertilizer, thus less affected by global market changes. Aside from this, local supply will become more prominent and would help the Philippines become self-sufficient in terms of fertilizer supply.

The event was also highlighted by technology demonstration, where 12 seed companies planted 27 hybrid seeds to showcase the advantages and benefits of hybrid rice in the 104.30 clustered rice area covered by the San Agustin, San Ramon Farmers Cooperative (SARFC) in Bula, Camarines Sur.

The event was hosted by the Department of Agriculture Rice Program and the Agricultural Training Institute – Bicol in partnership with the Rice Productivity Advocacy Incorporated or Rice Board, Local Government Unit of Bula, Camarines Sur, PhilRice, and several seed-selling private companies. XXX

Source:

Agricultural Training Institute. (April 24, 2022). DA-ATI Bicol et al. Hold 14th National Rice Technology Forum. https://ati.da.gov.ph/ati-5/news/04252022-1556/da-ati-bicol-et-al-hold-14th-national-rice-technology-forum