The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office I, through the Organic Agriculture Program, held a two-day Municipal Organic Agriculture roadmap workshop in Pangasinan from December 6-7, 2022 at Purok Marcela Resort, Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Certified Organic Practitioners of the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Pangasinan Philippines Inc., as well as Organic Agriculture Focal Persons per LGU, OPAg Pangasinan, Pangasinan Municipal and City Agriculturists, and farmers, gathered in this workshop to develop a strategic plan for the next 2-3 years.

Dr. Marvin Quilates, Regional Organic Agriculture Focal Person, discussed the activity’s rationale as well as the roadmap template, in which participants were clustered according to the products they produce. On the other hand, Mr. Acrenio Corpuz, consultant, discussed how to create a business plan.

In attendance were Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo N. Bataoil, who is also an advocate in Organic Farming, shared stories in relation to his advocacy on the “Rebirth of Philippine Ylang-Ylang” with a three-fold mission of bringing back Ylang-Ylang’s glory, Mr. Ferdinand Matro, consultant, and staff from DA – RFO1 Organic Agriculture Program.

On the second day of the activity, the participants presented their drafted business plans for each organic commodity namely, rice, corn, mungbean, peanut, Pinakbet vegetables, chicken, herbs, onion and garlic, for feedback, suggestions and recommendations.

The completion of the roadmap for Organic Agriculture for Region I would enable them to have a clear strategic plan to follow regarding organic farming in order to attain their thrusts and goals of increasing yield, improve farm productivity and food security in the next coming years.