Kapangan, Benguet — The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (DA-BAFS) conducted the initial assessment of a core Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) group in Kapangan, Benguet on June 10–13, 2025. The assessment was undertaken to verify the group’s compliance with the accreditation requirements as an Organic Certifying Body (OCB).The activity consisted of an office-based assessment and witnessing of the group’s peer review process, with the goal of determining whether the group operates in a competent, impartial, and consistent manner in accordance with its Manual of Operations.
The DA-BAFS Assessment Team was supported by technical personnel from the DA Regional Field Office–Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the Agricultural Training Institute–Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) CAR. Also present were representatives from the Province of Benguet and the Municipal Government of Kapangan, showing local support for the group’s efforts to establish itself as a certifying body.
This group is the sixth PGS group in the Cordillera region to apply for accreditation as an OCB. The assessment marks a significant step in the region’s continuing efforts to expand local capacity for organic certification and strengthen community-based assurance systems.The outcome of the assessment will determine the group’s eligibility for accreditation, in line with national standards and regulations for PGS implementation.
