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KAPALONG, DAVAO DEL NORTE | October 12, 2022 – Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Davao team conducted a blended inspection of a Field Experimental Station/Trial Site as well as On-Site facilities in Kapalong, Davao del Norte last October 12, 2022.

During the inspection, FPA checked the occupational health, industrial hygiene, safety and security, and organizational aspect of the facility, if the company conformed to the standards set forth by the agency.

Subsequently, the experimental field station passed the inspection, and the Pesticide Regulations Division would send the final result for further examination since the findings serve as a prerequisite for the issuance of the certificate and the renewal of the license to operate.

This was in line with the agency’s mandate to check/validate the Experimental Use Permit (EUP) Trial Site, standard operating procedures, and compliance.

Regional Officer (RO) Marrisa Napalit spearheaded the activity along with Provincial Officer (PO) Cheery Agrade, while personnel from the Pesticide Regulations Division attended via Zoom. Representatives from Bayer Crop Science assisted the team. ###

DIGOS CITY, DAVAO DEL SUR | October 18, 2022 – Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Davao del Sur, together with the Top Agro Products Co. and Barangay Local Government Unit (LGU), conducted a “Farmer’s IEC Campaign” in Brgy. Dulangan, Digos City on October 12, 2022.

The campaign focused on updating the farmers on the current development of technology on farming techniques associated with pesticide problems and aimed to reach out to the farmers on the proper and safe use of crop protection products. In line with this, FPA provided awareness and other technical know-how on safe and judicious use of pesticides during the discussion.

FPA Provincial Officer (PO) Imelda Rasay highlighted the GAP’s modules on environmental management and worker’s health, safety, and welfare. She also emphasized the proper use of chemicals such as PHI (Pre-harvest Interval), MRL (Maximum Residue Limit), re-entry period, disposal of pesticides, awareness of pesticide’s shelf life, first aid on pesticide poisoning cases, and the like.

In addition, farmers were also reminded to always read the label and follow its proper use as well as the recommended crops to be applied with to avoid the risk of improper/misuse of pesticide. FPA also provided information materials such as Gabay sa Tamang Paggamit ng Abono at Pestisidyo, and other brochures for additional reference.

PO Imelda Rasay, Top Agro Products General Trade Manager Mr. Chito Eltagonde, and the rest of the Barangay LGU spearheaded the said Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Campaign where 30 Brgy. officials and members of Dulangan Mango Farmers Association attended. ###

DIGOS CITY, DAVAO DEL SUR | October 14, 2022 – Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Provincial Officer (PO) Ms. Imelda Rasay discussed safe pesticide handling on DXKL 97.5 Radyo Astig last October 14, 2022.

The radio guesting was part of FPA’s commitment to providing knowledge-based awareness on the safe and judicious use of agricultural inputs and updates.

In her fourth radio guesting, she continuously focused on the proper storage and disposal of pesticides as part of good housekeeping practices.

“Good storage of pesticides involves the control of all factors that may cause deterioration of the stored products. These factors may be physical (heat, humidity), biological (molds, insects), chemical (acidity, corrosion), or mechanical (pressure packing). Even under optimum storage conditions, some products may spoil after some time,” Ms. Rasay added.

Moreover, PO Rasay highlighted the importance of good housekeeping, such as storekeeping, checking for some leaks and spills, decontamination, recording system, safety requirements, triple-rinsing and puncturing of empty pesticide containers, and more. She emphasized the importance of safety in handling pesticides and why farmers should be aware of proper labeling and its toxicity levels to avoid accidents such as poisoning.

FPA will continue to guest on the program every 2nd Friday of the month on DXKL 97.5 Radyo Astig in Digos City, Davao del Sur.

The said radio program was co-sponsored by the United Top Agro Products with General Trade Manager Mr. Chito Eltagonde, which was also live-streamed on Facebook.###

You can watch the livestream here:

https://www.facebook.com/100072381342371/videos/394735246053195/

CAMARINES SUR | October 17, 2022 – Forty-one (41) participants from Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Albay attended the Accredited Safety Dispenser (ASD) training held at Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Building, Airport Road, San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur on October 11-12, 2022.

To start the program, Provincial Officer of Camarines Sur (PO) Christopher M. Nuñez gave an overview of the Two-Day ASD training and clarified the purpose of training as one of the prerequisites in applying for FPA License to Operate as a dealer. This training also served as a help to the dealers with no licenses found during the regular inspections and Clean Up drive operations.

PO Ardon Ryan E. Nee-Estuye presented the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority to the participants. He also highlighted the role of ASD personnel as frontline to farmers purchasing fertilizer and pesticide products.

ASD refers to an individual who attended the 2-day training conducted by FPA and passed the examinations administered by the Regional Field Units (RFUs). They must be present at the store during business hours to properly dispense fertilizer and pesticide products to farmers and supervise, advise, and assist buyers on the safe handling and storage of agricultural inputs.

The discussion during the first day focused on pesticides: General Information on Pesticides and its Label, Pesticide Safe Handling, Storage and Transport, Pesticide Poisoning and First Aid, Understanding Integrated Pest Management Concept, and Insecticide Resistance Management.

On the second day, provincial officers discussed Soil, Fertilizer, and Plant Growth, Types of Fertilizer and Plant Growth Promoters, Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS) Program, and Fertilizer Handling and Storage. The licensing requirements and good housekeeping were also discussed so that the dealers could prepare the license applications and comply with the FPA’s good housekeeping requirements during the inspection of FPA personnel.

In addition, Regional Officer Gabriel B. Atole addressed the reasons behind the fertilizer price hike & informed the participants of the list of off-specs fertilizer circulating the market.

The team reminded the participants to purchase only FPA-registered fertilizer and pesticide products from FPA-licensed handlers. In case of doubt about their purchased fertilizer and pesticide products, they could contact the assigned Provincial Officer in their area or visit the FPA website and FPA Region V Facebook page for more information.

The team was headed by Regional Officer Mr. Gabriel B. Atole, FPA-Albay Provincial Officer Mr. Winsor L. Nueva, FPA-Cam. Sur and Catanduanes Provincial Officer Engr. Christohper M. Nuñez, FPA-Cam. Norte Provincial Officer Engr. Cris L. Legaspi, FPA-Sorsogon Provincial Officer Engr. Ardon Ryan E. Nee-Estuye and Regional Staff Ms. Rosie T. Malazar. ###

CATBALOGAN, SAMAR | October 13, 2022 – Fifty (50) aspiring dealers in the region of Samar attended the Accredited Safety Dispenser (ASD) training in Cocina de Carbral, Catbalogan, Samar, last Oct. 5-6, 2022.

ASD training is a prerequisite in securing a license provided by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) to operate as a dealer of fertilizer and pesticide (F/P) products and aims to train store owners/proprietors, Individual Business Owners (IBOs) on the proper dispensing of the products.

On the first day, FPA conducted a pre-test examination to assess participants’ prior understanding of the topics and the introduction of the Agency, including the excerpts regarding updates, outlooks, and trends. Afterward, FPA Region VIII discussed the soil fertilizer, plant growth, and proper F/P handling, storage, and transport.

In addition, Mr. Dante Diadula from Longping Hybrid Rice covered the Review Module and Examination of Hybrid Rice, while Mr. Jelfried Bentalanon from LEADS-Agri covered General Pesticide Information.

Various topics were also discussed on the second day of the training, such as pesticide poisoning and first aid, understanding of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and fertilizer and pesticide registration and licensing.

The last part of the training was a post-test examination to see if the participants understood the topics discussed over the two-day training. At the end of the two-day course, the Agency expected that participants would be able to discuss with their clientele the proper use and handling of fertilizer and pesticide, as well as precautionary measures and the right kind of agricultural inputs for their farm.

The said training was organized by FPA Regional Field Unit VIII headed by Mr. Francis Salvador Costas, along with the Provincial Officers Eric C. Castañas, John Mar L. Nosura, Gary De la Cruz, Claudette Mae Terciño, and Loreto Macabio Jr. ###

AMBAGUIO, NUEVA VIZCAYA | October 13, 2022 – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Cagayan Valley conducted a seminar on the safe and judicious use of agricultural pesticides for 40 vegetable farmers in Barangay Salingsingan, Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya on October 13, 2022.

The discussion focused on proper safety procedures and first aid management in case of accidental pesticide poisoning in the field. FPA Regional Officer (RO) Leonardo A. Bangad reminded the farmers of the pernicious effect of agricultural pesticides if used improperly.

In addition, Provincial Officer (PO) Henry Cabayan Jr. discussed the general information about pesticides and its label, safe handling, possible chemical hazards, and prevention of pesticide poisoning. He highlighted the importance of reading the pesticide label before buying, mixing, applying/spraying, storing, and disposing.

“As we’re always saying, if you follow the label, there is nothing to worry. As food producers, we should be responsible not only to ourselves but also to our environment and, most of all, to our consumers,” said PO Cayaban, Jr.

FPA conducted the said seminar to educate and inform the farmers on the proper ways of responsibly using pesticide products following the reports from the National Poison and Management Center about the poisoning cases that happened in the barangay in March 2022.

The training was made possible with the help of LGU Ambaguio through its Municipal Agriculture Office, headed by Mr. Dick P. Dinungon, and Zhengbang Crop Protection Philippines, represented by Mr. Ericson Taberna. ###

LIGAO CITY, ALBAY | October 11, 2022 – Regional Officer (RO) Gabriel B. Atole attended Lakbay Palay: Bukid Tipid Tips, Subukan! on October 11, 2022, at the Department of Agriculture Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) branch station, Batang, Ligao City.

During the activity, RO Atole provided updates on the ongoing fertilizer situation. He explained the reasons for its rising prices, such as the world fertilizer market situation, China curtailing fertilizer export, the price increase of fertilizer grades, increased cost of raw materials, and increased transport and logistical expenses from importation to retail.

RO Atole then reiterated the efforts of the government to lessen the impact of fertilizer price hikes and encourage the farmers to do their part not to burn their rice straw but to let it decompose to the soil, which will serve as an additional source of fertilizer nutrients.

“We should go back to basic and enriched our soil to efficiently and effectively utilize the fertilizers and lessen our input cost,” he said.

In line with this, he informed that FPA, PhilRice, BSWM, and DA were partners in promoting the Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS) and Abonong Swak. BFS is an alternative way to lessen the dependency on commonly used chemical fertilizers and give enough balanced nutrients for plant growth.

DA-PhilRice organized the event, and 392 farmers from the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Northern Samar were in attendance.

Every year, DA conducts the event to showcase cost-reducing and yield-enhancing rice and rice-based production technologies and provide avenues to discuss it with farmers and extension workers. Through its Bukid Tipid Tips Tekno Klinik Sessions, the farmer gathered information on Inbred and Hybrid Rice Varieties and Characteristics, Abonong Swak, and Pest Management.

In addition, DA Regional Field Office 5 presented the different programs of the Department of Agriculture that will alleviate the farm productivity and income of the farmers. They also promoted different banner programs and projects such as seed distribution, fertilizer discount vouchers, financial assistance, fuel subsidy, and provision of farm machinery throughout the activity. ###

BANISILAN, NORTH COTABATO | October 7, 2022 – Bukidnon Agricultural Dealers Association (BASDA), together with the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority Region X, conducted an outreach program at Balindong Elementary School in Banisilan, North Cotabato last October 7, 2022.

BASDA is composed of fertilizer and pesticide (F/P) dealers in the province of Bukidnon. One of their responsibilities is to promote the proper use of F/P for human and environmental protection as part of their product stewardship and responsible care program and extend generosity for community service.

During the activity, food packs, school supplies, bags for the pupils, tokens, souvenirs for teachers, cash donations for the school, and seeds and chemicals for the “Gulayan sa Paaralan Program” were distributed. In addition, FPA Northern Mindanao participated by giving 98 pairs of slippers to the pupils.

The activity wouldn’t be possible without the cooperation of the F/P companies namely:

1. Agrotiger Philippines Corporation

2. Aktiv Multi Trading Co. Philippines. Inc.

3. Amigo Planters Fertilizer

4. Bayer Crop Science Philippines

5. Bioseed Research Phils. Inc.

6. Biostadt Philippines Inc.

7. C.B Andrew Philippines Inc.

8. Corteva Agriscience Philippines Inc.

9. Evo Gene Seeds Corp.

10.SL Biotech Corp.

11.Syngenta Philippines

12.Vast Agro Solutions Inc.

To commend the efforts for this activity, BASDA initiated the giving of certificates to its members as well as to F/P industries. ###