Category: Articles

MAHAYAG, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR | February 9, 2023 – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Region IX joined the medical students of Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) in their two-day community immersion program and discussed the importance of safe and judicious use of agricultural inputs to 90 farmers in Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur on February 7-8, 2023.

Regional Officer (RO) Alex Paalisbo and Provincial Officer (PO) Michael Tuico explained the occupational safety procedures in agriculture, emphasizing the basic information about pesticides and how to understand the pesticide labels to achieve the efficient use of farm inputs.

The team also discussed the proper handling of pesticides during transport, storage, disposal, and decontamination of empty pesticide containers and the importance of wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Further, the farmers were also trained in administering first aid in case of pesticide poisoning in their workplace.

The immersion program reached out to 90 farmers from Brgy. Sicpao and San Isidro in said community.

ILOILO | February 8, 2022 – Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Region VI inspected six (6) dealers during its regular monitoring in Iloilo last February 3 and 7, 2023.

Regional Officer (RO) Noel Negre and Provincial Officer (PO) Raymund Alfor conducted random weighing in these establishments to check the quality of the 50-kg fertilizer bags. It was found that all dealers are compliant with the FPA standards.

Further, to maintain the quality of the fertilizers and pesticides sold in the market, the team educated the dealers on the importance of ‘First In, First Out’ rule and proper shelving of pesticide products.

The ‘First In, First Out’ rule means the dealers should arrange the products according to the dates on the label and put the older products in front or on top so they will be purchased first.

RO Negre also encouraged licensed dealers to check the authenticity of the products sold in their respective stores. “Dealers are the front liners in helping local farmers purchase up-to-standard products. Therefore, they should always be aware of the legitimacy of the distributors, product expiration, and the authenticity of product labels. They can constantly check these information through our website,” RO Negre said.

In addition, RFU VI maintained its communication with other dealers by sending memorandums and letters should any announcements come from the agency. ###

CAMARINES SUR | January 27, 2023 – Thirty-eight (38) fertilizer and pesticide handlers were inspected during the clean-up drive operations on January 17-20 in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th districts of Camarines Sur.

Out of the 38 handlers, eight (8) unlicensed dealers received Notice of Violations (NoVs) and were required to attend the Accredited Safety Dispenser (ASD) Training as a requirement to secure a license.

In addition, the team issued Stop Use, Stop Move, Stop Sale (SUMS) Orders to four (4) establishments for selling fertilizer products with suspension orders and underweight fertilizer bags. The findings were submitted to the FPA Central Office, after which Regional Officer (RO) Gabriel Atole informed the manufacturer of the violation and has coordinated for pull out as part of their compliance.

On the other hand, compliant dealers were commended and reminded to avoid purchasing off-specification products from companies with suspension orders.

RO Atole led the operation along with Provincial Officers Rosie Malazar, Christopher Nuñez, Cris Legaspi, Winsor Nueva, Rodny P. Conda, and Ardon Ryan Nee-Estuye.###

DAVAO CITY | JANUARY 20, 2023 – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) RFU 11 gathered all the extruders in the region to discuss the proposed new protocol of banning Chlorpyrifos in the banana industry on January 20, 2023, at the FPA RFO-XI office in Davao City.

Regional Officer (RO). Marrisa Napalit and Deputy Executive Director (DED) for Pesticide. Eric Divinagracia spearheaded the meeting to address the new Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) requirement for banana exports.

With Japan and Korea setting a new MRL requirement for Chlorpyrifos, DED Divinagracia believed that other banana-importing countries like China would probably adopt the said restriction anytime.

“It is time for the Philippines to set a new rule to ban the product since we are [always or somehow] behind on the banning in relation to other restrictions. Moreover, setting this new rule will ease trade transactions in the global market,” DED Divinagracia said.

RO Napalit emphasized that banning the said active ingredient would benefit the banana growers and suggested switching to other alternatives (active ingredient) in controlling insect pests in bananas.

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide used in farming to kill pests. However, it is also a toxic substance that could affect the nervous system depending on the amount and length of exposure.

Moreover, DED Divinagracia is planning to consult the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), Mindanao Banana Farmers and Exporters Association, and other government agencies on this concern.

Once the memorandum on banning Chlorpyrifos is issued, FPA will inform all parties as soon as possible.

Another topic discussed in the meeting was selling pesticide-impregnated polybags which is not allowed at the dealer’s level. RO Napalit suggested that it could be high time for the government to rationalize existing regulation

Due to factors that need to be considered, Mr. Divinagracia said this needs to be discussed with the local government units. However, extruders were still encouraged to send a letter of intent to FPA requesting for exemption in their selling of poly bags to the dealers. ###

CAGAYAN VALLEY | January 17, 2023 – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) – Cagayan Valley inspected a fertilizer and pesticide warehouse and two manufacturing plants in Isabela on January 17, 2023, to monitor their compliance with manufacturing practices and assure the availability of fertilizer supply in Region II.

The team headed by Regional Officer (RO) Leonardo Bangad first visited Nita’s Agricultural Supply Warehouse in San Pedro, Tumauini, Isabela, and discussed the requirements for the issuance of their License to Operate (LTO) as a distributor.

Moreover, the team conducted spot inspection of the DTD Agricultural Organiques manufacturing plant where they examined compliance of their manufacturing procedures with FPA standards.

Finally, the team went to Eshoppebela Corporation to advise them to secure Experimental Use Permit (EUP) which is necessary prior to their conduct of bioefficacy field test to generate data required for their product registration. ###

QUEZON CITY | January 11, 2023 – The Philippine Association of Certified Pesticide Applicators (PACPA), PMCP Foundation Inc. (PMCPFI), the Philippine Association of Entomologists, Inc. (PAE), the Philippine Association of Professional Fumigators, Inc. (PAPFI), and the Kapisanan ng mga Pest Control Operators sa Pilipinas, Inc. (KAPESCOPI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FPA, headed by Ms. Julieta B. Lansangan, OIC Executive Director for the renewed partnership in the conduct of education and training programs for Agricultural Certified Pesticide Applicators (CPA), Accredited Responsible Care Officers (ARCO), Fertilizer, Pesticide, and Veterinary Researchers on January 11, 2023, at FPA Bldg., Visayas Ave., Quezon City.

The MOU outlines the two interested parties’ shared responsibility for training management. FPA will have the following responsibilities and obligations:

a) Monitor the proceedings of the training course and give its evaluation afterwards;

b) Act as a Resource Person under Module 1 (FPA Rules and Regulations) of the training module;

c) Compute the overall evaluation of the training association based on the prescribed guidelines;

d) Set the annual meeting with the training associations to discuss among others the outcome of the previous year’s training activities, agreed on the schedule of trainings and symposia of the current year and plans that will improve the conduct of the trainings;

e) Administer the examination for Certification/Accreditation; and

f) Provide the basic training requirements in the form of guidelines and parameters for the training course.

On the other hand, the training associations are tasked to:

a) Provide supervision and management over the training course;

b) Provide resource persons as required in the program;

c) Evaluate the applicants using the eligibility criteria set forth by FPA;

d) Provide the needed materials, manuals and supplies, including certificates and other paraphernalia needs in the training program;

e) Collect reasonable fees to defray the costs of food, materials, resource speakers, management, etc.;

f) Evaluate the participants’ training performance based on the criteria set forth by FPA; and

g) Submit to FPA a training report which shall include the following: program, resource speakers, and financial report, a month after the training has been conducted.

For 2022, 3,433 accreditation cards have been issued, of which 2,198 were for ASD, 324 for ARCO, 773 for Agricultural CPA, and 138 for researchers.

Individuals intending to either apply or renew their existing license should choose a schedule at https://bit.ly/3CCAXvV. Afterwhich, they have to coordinate with the FATA to reserve a training slot and submit necessary training requirements. ###

MATI CITY, DAVAO ORIENTAL | December 10, 2022 – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority Provincial Officers (PO) Junette A. Cano and Rustom Gain Tanduyan joined in the 4th year-end General Assembly and Christmas Party of the Davao Oriental Fertilizer and Pesticide Dealers Association (DOFPDA) Inc. at Honey’s Hotel, Matiao, Mati City, Davao Oriental.

During the program, FPA presented the agency’s updates and warned the participants about the increasing cases of fake and off-spec fertilizers and pesticides in the market. PO Junette Cano, who also served as the association’s adviser, emphasized the importance of patronizing products from FPA-licensed suppliers/distributors and checking the products’ legitimacy through the FPA website.

In addition, the association made amendments to the current resolutions to further enhance its services to its members and agreed to strengthen its presence to the farmers and local government. The members then received IEC posters and tarpaulins to display at their respective stores as part of the plan to establish an awareness campaign program by putting out IEC posters containing information on the fake and off-specs fertilizers to all dealers in the province. Through this, FPA and DOFPDA aims to educate nearby farmers on the awareness of fertilizers and pesticides at just a glance.

Forty-three (43) participants attended the assembly and gathered for the Christmas party, as well as awarding of certificates to the members. ###

HILONGOS, LEYTE | December 9, 2022 – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Regional Field Unit VIII conducted the Hipos Baseyo Program on Dec. 1, 2022, at the Municipal Gym in Hilongos, Leyte.

This program aimed to collect empty pesticide bottles from the farmers and inform them of the proper procedure for using agricultural pesticides to avoid the inherent risk to health and the environment.

Municipal Environment & Natural Resources Officer Neil Melvin Flordelis and Municipal Agriculturist Elma Oja welcomed and introduced the participants. At the same time, Mr. Jaypee O. Ollave, the President of the Eastern Visayas AgroChemical Association (EVACA), provided an overview of the program.

In addition, FPA Provincial Officer (PO) Eric Castanas discussed the proper handling and disposal of empty containers of agricultural pesticides while Regional Officer (RO) Francis Costas gave updates on FPA’s activities in the area as well as the closing message.

The activity drew 101 participants from the agricultural committee, farmer leaders, and association members. This was made possible by the FPA RFU 8 team headed by RO Costas, the Eastern Visayas AgroChemical Association (EVACA), and the LGU Hilongos, Leyte.

Hilongos, Leyte, was the chosen pilot area for this program because it is one of the rice granary areas in the province. ###

CAVITE | December 6, 2022 – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Region IV conducted training on the safe and judicious use of fertilizer and pesticide (F/P) to 44 corn and rice farmers from the different cities and municipalities in the province Cavite. The training was conducted at Farmer’s Hall, Provincial Agriculture Compound, Trece Martires City, Cavite last November 24, 2022.

Provincial Officer (PO) Georlene Orbista discussed the functions of the FPA and provided updates on the FPA’s policies, plans, and programs. Further, she explained the reasons for the increasing prices of fertilizers and highlighted that the global fertilizer crisis was due to the rising prices of fuel, the Ukraine-Russian conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, most fertilizer-exporting countries prioritized their local distribution over exportation.

Meanwhile, PO Mark Nicky Larga promoted the implementation of the Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS). BFS is a program initiated by the Department of Agriculture that pushes for the use of combined organic and inorganic inputs and other forms of strategy to attain the maximum potential of farmlands while promoting balanced fertilization in maintaining soil fertility. The said strategy uses 4rs in the Nutrient Stewardship concept: right source, right rate, right time, and right place.

Mr. Ingracio Baral and Mr. Kelvin Bryan Monserrat served as resource persons from the pesticide industry to discuss the safe handling of pesticides and the proper wearing of PPEs. They also highlighted the importance of pesticide label information, including first aid management in case of accidental poisoning, Maximum Residue Limit (MRL), Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI), re-entry period, empty pesticide container triple-rinsing, disposal, and cocktailing of pesticides.

FPA Region IV also provided informational materials to the participants such as Gabay sa Tamang Paggamit ng Abono at Pestisidyo to further help them with their farming.

Afterward, Regional Officer (RO) Suzettie Alcaide initiated a consultation meeting with the participants to gather inputs from the farmers on how the agency can further improve its services related to its mandates. Some of the suggestions were:

(1) the massive information dissemination on off-specification and fake fertilizers to protect the farmers as end-users, especially since the prices of fertilizers are still high;

(2) there should be efforts from FPA to lower the price of fertilizers to make them more affordable to farmers; and

 (3) help farmers to gain access to fertilizer vouchers and other support mechanisms from the DA.

The training was in partnership with the Local Government of Cavite – Office of the Provincial Agriculture and Oracle Chemical Corp. ###

TAGUM CITY, DAVAO DEL NORTE | December 6, 2022 – Sixty-eight (68) attendees from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Dealers Association of Davao Inc. (FAPDADI) were gathered to benefit from the Accredited Safety Dispenser (ASD) Refresher Course Program of the FPA Davao Region. The activity was held in FAPDADI’s year-end General Assembly at Basilio’s Place, San Miguel, Tagum City on December 6, 2022.

Different fertilizer and pesticide dealer members attended the said event, together with Deputy Executive Director for Pesticide Eric C. Divinagravia, Regional Officer Marrisa G. Napalit, Provincial Officers (PO) Junette Cano, Rustom Gain Tanduyan and Cheery B. Agrade.

PO Agrade, the association’s adviser, started the refresher course by presenting the FPA updates and reminded the participants to be vigilant about the proliferation of fake and off-spec fertilizers and pesticides in the market. In addition, as a form of review, she discussed with the dealers the basic practices of a safety dispenser, such as checking the proper pesticide labeling since mislabeled products were also increasing in the market. She reminded them to check their shelf life and observe proper disposal of expired products, as well as the proper repacking procedures of fertilizers into different kilogram bags. She emphasized the importance of randomly weighing the fertilizer bags before accepting the products from their suppliers.

Lastly, PO Rustom Gain Tanduyan talked through the proper handling and storage of fertilizer, as this was a common violation in every store. At the same time, Syngenta’s Product Stewardship Manager Catherine Sumagaysay promoted awareness of the safe use of crop protection products, IRAC, FRAC, and HRAC. A Christmas program was experienced at the latter part of the assembly.

FAPDADI was the first to receive an ASD refresher course in the Davao region. RO Napalit stressed the significance of this initiative since there was a need to update the safety dispensers, especially on the standard operating procedures at the store, FPA memoranda, and awareness of fake and off-specs agricultural inputs. In addition, like in the ASD training, the attendees re-visited the agency’s primer, licensing, and regulatory procedures.

The association was created to establish a strong network of all dealers in the province, especially in the information dissemination of FPA Updates, campaigns, thorough communication with the local government and the stakeholders, and social and welfare programs for the members. Currently, the association has a total of 150 active members to date and continues to grow. ###