The PGS Pangasinan Philippines Inc. (PPPI) finally received its Certificate of Accreditation from the Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (DA-BAFS) as the first-ever PGS-Organic Certifying Body (PGS-OCB) in Ilocos Region on May 30, 2023.

The accreditation has a validity of five years and attested that the said core PGS group has been assessed and found compliant with the requirements of the RA 11511 and guidelines for the accreditation of a core group as an Organic Certifying Body (OCB) and therefore authorized to provide organic certification services for crop and animal production as their approved scope, to individual farmers of Pangasinan practicing organic farming who also wants to be organically certified.

Prior to the accreditation, the PPPI core members received their Participatory Organic Certificates (POC) last June 24, 2022. The POC has a validity of three years and acts as documentary proof that a core PGS farmer member complies with the requirements, standards, and norms of organic farming/agriculture. This document is also one of the requirements for the accreditation of the core PGS group as an organic certifying body.

In partnership with the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 1 (ATI-RTC 1), the DA-RFO 1 has assisted the PGS Pangasinan Philippines Inc. towards their accreditation.

The official address of the now accredited PGS Pangasinan core group is at Sitio Mangga, Mangatarem, Pangasinan, and is headed by their President, Ms. Lea Astrude Santiago, a known staunch advocate of organic farming in Ilocos Region.

Ms. Santiago received the Certificate of Accreditation from BAFS officials, Ms. Joeve S. Calleja – Chief, Organic Agriculture Division and Mr. Vicente D. Limsan, Jr. – Science Research Specialist II, Organic Agriculture Accreditation Section, and Mr. Ronald John L. Lamano – Senior Science Research Specialist, Organic Agriculture Certification Section.

A first in Ilocos Region, PPPI is now the 11th accredited PGS core group entire the Philippines.

Congratulations!