The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 1 in its 6th celebration of the Regional Organic Agriculture Congress (ROAC) on August 22-24 eyes on strengthening the number of Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) – certified organic farms to bolster up the organic agriculture industry in the region.

PGS is a system that certifies farmers and fishers as engaged in organic farming and producing organic products. Associations participating in PGS must comply with the Philippine National Standards for Organic Agriculture.

The Bureau of Agriculture Fisheries Standards (BAFS) certifies these associations as PGS core groups and accredits them as organic certifying bodies. Products certified through PGS are permitted to be sold only within the domestic market.

“Sa dami ng mga naghahanap ng organiko na produkto, ang kulang naman na po ay ang produksyon. Timely na nagrorollout na po tayo ng PGS sa pamamagatin ng ating mga PGS groups sa iba-ibang rehiyon ng bansa,” said Director Gabriel Rubio, National Organic Agriculture Board – Luzon representative.

(With the increasing number of people looking for organic products, what we lack now is production. We are rolling out PGS in a timely manner with the support of our PGS groups in different regions of the country.)

“Our organic areas are expanding,” he added.

Currently, the Ilocos Region has 15.20 hectares of organic certified farms.

The agency’s achievements in its organic agriculture programs were only made possible through the cooperation of its partner agencies, organic farmers, and local government units (LGUs).

Certificates of recognition were therefore given to LGUs that actively supported the promotion of organic agriculture through ordinances and funding. The honored LGUs included the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Ilocos Norte, LGU of Laoag City, LGU of Vintar, PLGU of Ilocos Sur, LGU of Sto. Domingo, LGU of Candon City, LGU of Sudipen, LGU of City of San Fernando, LGU of Agoo, and LGU of Aguilar.

Additionally, five associations received certificates of appreciation for their Organic Agriculture Livelihood Projects: Grain Seeds Farmers Association Inc., City of San Fernando La Union Organic Agriculture Cooperative, Siwawer Organic Practitioners Association Inc., Ilocos Sur Provincial Organic Producers Association Inc., and PGS Eastern Central Pangasinan Association Inc.

Four additional certificates were awarded in recognition of their accomplishments: PGS Pangasinan Philippines Inc. for receiving certification and accreditation as an Organic Certifying Body; PGS City of San Fernando La Union for acquiring certification as an Organic Certifying Body; J.M.S. Crops Farm for becoming the first PGS- certified organic farm in the region; and Royal Cocoa Farm for being the second.

The congress began with a trade fair exhibit at Robinson’s Calasiao in Pangasinan, featuring 20 exhibitors from the region over three days, from August 22 to 24. Following the opening event, the plenary session took place at the Regency Hotel in Pangasinan and continued until August 23.