Blog

ILOILO CITY | February 15, 2022 – As part of the ongoing monitoring for the distribution of the Fertilizer Disbursement Voucher program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Region VI conducted a warehouse inspection at Brgy. Ingore, Lapaz, Iloilo City on February 15, 2023.

Regional Officer (RO) Noel Negre inspected the warehouse storage of La Filipina Uy Gongco and conducted random weighing of 50-kg fertilizer bags to ensure that the stocks sold to the public were within the standards implemented by the agency. As a result, it was recorded that the said warehouse followed the protocols and passed the inspection.

In addition, RO Negre informed the handler on the importance of regular calibration of weighing scales to ensure that the scale is within the standard test weight. He also recommended purchasing an electronic weighing scale to countercheck if there are discrepancies in determining the weight of an object.

With the ongoing Fertilizer Disbursement Voucher program of the DA, FPA is mandated to assure the public of an adequate supply of fertilizer, monitor the inventory and price, and check the weight of fertilizer being sold in the market through random weighing. ###

Quezon City | February 10, 2023 – To introduce and explain the international standard on conformity assessment in relation to the monitoring and enforcement function of Regional Field Units, the FPA Regional Field Unit NCR conducted an Awareness Webinar on ISO/IEC 17020:2012 held on February 2, 2023 via zoom.

The event was participated by more than one hundred FPA personnel nationwide including representatives from the Fertilizer Regulations Division and the Pesticide Regulations Division.

“As a regulatory agency, there is need for us to build competence in performing inspection and for the impartiality and consistency of our inspection activities,” exclaimed Maribel Querijero, Regional Officer of FPA NCR.

She explained that FPA, as an inspection body, carry out assessments on behalf of private clients including fertilizer and pesticide handlers. Along the process, the Agency provides and explains information about the conformity of inspected items with FPA regulations and standards.

ISO/IEC 17020:2012 “covers the activities of inspection bodies whose work can include the examination of materials, products, installations, plants, processes, work procedures or services, and the determination of their conformity with requirements and the subsequent reporting of results of these activities to clients and, when required, to authorities.”

Moreover, inspection parameters include matters of quantity, quality, safety, fitness for purpose, and continued safety compliance of installations or systems in operation. The general requirements with which these bodies are required to comply in order that their services are accepted by clients and by supervisory authorities are harmonized in this International Standard.

Related trainings on the implementation and audit are currently in the pipeline to be attended by FPA Regional and Provincial Officers, and FRD and PRD representatives. ###

References: International Standard Organization. (2012). ISO/IEC 17020:2012(en) Conformity assessment — Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection. Retrieved https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso-iec:17020:ed-2:v1:en

DAET, CAMARINES NORTE | February 10, 2023 – 20 Barangay Agricultural Extension Workers (BAEWs) learned the safe use of agricultural inputs and Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS) during the Capability Enhancement Training of Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) at Wiltan’s Hotel, Daet, Camarines Norte on February 6-8, 2023.

The team promoted BFS as an alternative for inorganic fertilizer consumption since prices are still at their heights nowadays.

BFS is a program recommended by FPA and other DA agencies that 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.

Further, due to the pesticide poisoning cases reported to FPA, the team also equipped the AEWs with safe agricultural processes, especially the importance of reading the pesticide label and safe handling of the said products. It is important to note that awareness could serve as a precaution to avoid pesticide poisoning in the field.

Moreover, provincial officers warned the participants about the increasing number of fake and off-specification fertilizers in the market. They urged them to double-check the products through the FPA website.

Regional Officer (RO) Gabriel Atole led the discussion along with Provincial Officers (PO) Cris Legaspi and Winsor Nueva.

The training on the Capability Enhancement for Farmer Leaders: “Facts in Field: A Training on Pest and Nutrient Management for Barangay Agricultural Extension Worker (BAEW) aimed to train the participants with knowledge and skills on the updated pest and nutrient management in the field. ###