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Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales | September 12, 2025 – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), in partnership with SGS Philippines, Inc., has concluded a five-day capacity-building training on ISO/IEC 17020:2012 Conformity Assessment and Effective Inspection Practices.

The training, held from September 8–12, 2025, gathered around 50 participants, including members of the FPA Management Committee and technical staff from the FPA Central Office and Regional Field Units (RFUs) who are involved in the conduct of field inspection activities. The activity aimed to strengthen the agency’s inspection and monitoring capabilities, particularly in ensuring impartiality, consistency, and alignment with international standards.

Raising the bar for inspections

In his welcome remarks, Executive Director Estrada highlighted that inspections are at the heart of FPA’s regulatory powers.

“Inspection is more than just checking boxes – it’s about building trust, ensuring safety, and upholding the standards that our Agency and our clients expect from us. By aligning our inspection practices with internationally recognized standards, we not only improve our internal processes but also demonstrate our commitment to excellence and accountability,” Dir. Estrada said.

The sessions covered key ISO 17020 requirements, including competence of inspection bodies, impartiality, and consistency of inspection results. Practical components such as assessment activities and mock inspections reinforced participants’ skills in applying international best practices to real-world regulatory scenarios.

The program commenced with an awareness session on ISO/IEC 17020:2012, followed by a discussion and workshop on Risk-Based Inspection of Fertilizers and Pesticides. The participants also had an actual field inspection using the inspection form developed from the workshop. A lecture on the qualities of effective inspectors was also tackled before a final exam was administered.

Building a pool of inspectors

One of the key goals of the training was to develop a pool of FPA inspectors coming from different divisions and units of the agency. This pool will serve as a ready roster of trained personnel who can be deployed to conduct field inspections, complementing the regular inspection staff from regulatory divisions and the RFUs.

By expanding inspection capacity, FPA ensures that its monitoring and enforcement activities are not only consistent nationwide but also more responsive to the growing demands of the agri-input industry.

“Through this training, our inspectors are better equipped to deliver consistent, high-quality service, strengthen compliance to our policies, and contribute to the success of the agricultural industry through comprehensive and sound regulations,” Estrada added.

The event was organized by the Fertilizer Regulations Division (FRD), with support from the Finance and Administrative Division (FAD), the FPA-Fertilizer and Pesticide Application Using Remotely Piloted Aircraft Control Committee (FPA-RPACC), and the FPA Regional Field Unit III. SGS Philippines provided technical expertise in both lectures and field demonstrations.

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

May 30, 2025 | Quezon City – In a move to harmonize local pesticide regulation with global best practices, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) launched the Work Manuals on Bioefficacy and Residue Data Evaluation for Pesticide Product Registration on May 30, 2025 during the FPA 48th Anniversary. 

Developed by the Pesticide Regulations Division (PRD), the manuals provide technical evaluators with standardized guidelines to ensure consistency, transparency, and scientific rigor in pesticide product assessments.

The Work Manuals can be accessed through the following link:

Work Manual on Pesticide Residue Data Evaluation

Work Manual on Pesticide Bioefficacy Data Evaluation

Enhancing regulatory efficiency and global alignment

According to PRD, the manuals were developed to establish a systematic and standardized approach in evaluating bioefficacy and residue data submissions. They address challenges in ensuring consistency and quality in data evaluation, particularly as FPA expands its pool of technical evaluators.

“Serving as a reference guide for FPA evaluators, the manuals provide comprehensive guidelines on data requirements, standard review procedures, prescribed reporting formats, and validation measures,” explained Maribel M. Querijero, Chief of PRD.

“They combine the expertise of FPA evaluators with international best practices in regulatory science and stand as the culmination of collaborative work by various institutions and experts,” she added.

The initiative was made possible through the support of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), and CropLife Asia under the USDA Cooperation on Global Pesticide Engagement with ASEAN Economic Communities, which promotes harmonization of regulatory systems across ASEAN member states.

Watch video highlighting the significance of FPA engagement and partnership with USDA and CABI Video Message for FPA Manuals Launch – CABI SRD, Asia

Contributions and acknowledgments

The manuals were developed through the invaluable contributions of the Expert Working Group for Bioefficacy, composed of Ms. Florinda Vasquez, Dr. Candida Adalla, Dr. Peter Magdaraog, Dr. Rizaldo Bayot, Dr. Elenita Sison, Dr. Melvin Ebengua, Dr. Nina Gracel Dimaano, Ms. Clare Hazel Tabernilla, Ms. Lovely-Luar Perez, and Ms. Kriz Anne Joi Minguez.

Leadership support was provided by former FPA Executive Director Julieta Lansangan, Deputy Director Eric Divinagracia, and Ms. Maribel Querijero, Chief Agriculturist of PRD, whose steadfast advocacy pushed forward improvements in FPA systems. Dr. Sabyan Faris Honey facilitated coordination with USDA experts, while Mr. Ricky Ho of CropLife Asia offered valuable insights and encouragement. International expert Mr. Alan Norden was also recognized for his tireless efforts in enhancing the content and quality of the manuals.

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

August 28, 2025 | San Mateo, Isabela – A total of 36 farmer leaders and officials of various Irrigators’ Associations (IAs) in the province participated in the Pesticide Management Training (PMT) conducted by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Regional Office II, in partnership with the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC), on August 26–28, 2025 in Malasin, San Mateo, Isabela.

The activity forms part of the continuing collaborative efforts of the FPA and ATI-RTC to promote sustainable and responsible farming practices. 

It aimed to strengthen the participants’ knowledge and skills in the proper development and implementation of effective pesticide management strategies to control disease vectors and domestic pests, while ensuring the protection of public health and the environment.

The three-day training covered an in-depth discussion on the guidelines for the safe and proper use of pesticides, which included reading and following labels, using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), working in well-ventilated areas, observing proper hygiene, and applying the correct amount to the designated target. 

Other topics discussed were pesticide resistance management, regulatory policies on fertilizer and pesticide products, and the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to further enhance the participants’ competencies in increasing farm productivity while upholding safety and environmental responsibility.

The training was positively received by the participants, who recognized the information shared as both relevant and valuable in supporting the development and security of Isabela’s agricultural sector.

Writer: Arwin A. Cardenas

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

August 23, 2025 | Quezon City – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) has intensified its campaign to promote drone technology in farming through the expansion of its “Drones4Rice” information caravans, reaching more than 1,250 farmers and stakeholders in Luzon and Visayas from June to August 2025.

Organized by FPA regional offices in partnership with local government units (LGUs), Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Offices (DA RFOs), and the National Rice Program (NRP), the caravans feature live drone demonstrations, technical lectures, and consultations showcasing the practical benefits of agricultural drones in rice farming.

“Ang drone technology ay hindi lang bahagi ng hinaharap, ito ay kasalukuyan at reyalidad,” said FPA Executive Director Glenn DC. Estrada during the information Caravan held in Narra, Palawan on July 17.

“Sa likod ng bawat lipad ng drone ay ang tungkuling protektahan ang kalikasan, ani, at kalusugan ng mga magsasaka at komunidad,” Director Estrada added.

The six caravans held since June gathered strong participation from local rice farmers:

Drones in modern farming

Agricultural drones are emerging as a game-changing tool for modern farming. They enable faster and more efficient application of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides while reducing environmental impact, minimizing health risks to farmworkers, and lowering labor costs.

The Drones4Rice program was pioneered in 2024 by the DA–National Rice Program with its first regional caravans in Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) and Region III (Central Luzon). With the FPA’s nationwide rollout, more caravans are set to take place in the coming months to expand awareness and adoption of drone technology in agriculture.

Writer: Fernando Pierre Dela Cruz

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