The Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA- Regional Field Office CAR Regulatory Division monitored certified core PGS Group farmer-members in Atok, Benguet, on December 10-12, 2024.The activity aimed to verify the continued compliance of core PGS group farmer-members with the Philippine National Standard relevant to organic agriculture, and to validate the effective implementation of correction and corrective action plan for the findings found during the previous inspection.Representatives from the Organic Agriculture Program and Provincial Agriculture Office of Benguet assisted in the activity.#OAmonitoring#PGSforOA#BAFSonthemove#DABAFS Monitoring of Atok Organic Practitioners Association Inc (ATOPAI) in Atok, Benguet December 20, 2024 Inspection Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group Farmer – Members Province of Cotabato December 19, 2024 Supervised Certification of Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group in South Cotabato December 12, 2024 Field Compliance Assessment of Ongoing Efficacy Trials in Davao del Norte December 12, 2024 DA-BAFS Monitoring Team conducted monitoring activities to two of the DA-BAFS registered organic soil amendment producers in Davao City December 12, 2024 Assessment to a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group (Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur) December 12, 2024 Oath Taking Ceremony of DA-BAFS Newly Appointed Employees for FY 2024 December 6, 2024 ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) Surveillance Audit December 6, 2024 1 2 3 4 5

Inspectors from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region XII Regulatory Division inspected five core PGS group farmer-members in three municipalities in the province of Cotabato, from December 3-7, 2024. The inspection was conducted to verify their compliance with the Philippine National Standard relevant to organic agriculture. Representatives from the Regional Organic Agriculture Program, Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center No. XII, Agriculture Offices of Kidapawan City, Matalam, and Alamada and the Provincial Agriculture Office of Cotabato assisted in the activity.#DABAFS #BAFSonthemove #OAinspection #PGSforOA #OrganicAgriculture  Inspection Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group Farmer – Members Province of Cotabato December 19, 2024 Supervised Certification of Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group in South Cotabato December 12, 2024 Field Compliance Assessment of Ongoing Efficacy Trials in Davao del Norte December 12, 2024 DA-BAFS Monitoring Team conducted monitoring activities to two of the DA-BAFS registered organic soil amendment producers in Davao City December 12, 2024 Assessment to a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group (Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur) December 12, 2024 Oath Taking Ceremony of DA-BAFS Newly Appointed Employees for FY 2024 December 6, 2024 ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) Surveillance Audit December 6, 2024 Validation Workshop with the DA-Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRAs) for the Study “Baseline Assessment on the Use and Impact of Philippines national Standards (PNS)” December 4, 2024 1 2 3 4 5

The DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division, together with the DA-RFO Organic Agriculture Program and Regulatory Division, conducted a supervised certification to the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) group in Sto. Niño, Cotabato from December 2 to 6, 2024.The activity aimed to provide technical assistance to the accredited PGS group, ensuring that their organic certification process—covering receiving and processing a farmer member’s application for certification, preparing for peer review, conducting the peer review, evaluating peer review findings, formulating and endorsing certification decisions, to finally issuing the Participatory Organic Certificate—is conducted in full compliance with the group’s Manual of Operations (MOO).The activity highlighted the supervised peer review, which is intended to guide the peer reviewers in verifying the compliance of applicant farmer members with the PGS group’s Internal Standards (IS). #OAtechnicalassistance#PGSforOA#OrganicAgriculture#BAFSonthemove#DABAFS  Inspection Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group Farmer – Members Province of Cotabato December 19, 2024 Supervised Certification of Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group in South Cotabato December 12, 2024 Field Compliance Assessment of Ongoing Efficacy Trials in Davao del Norte December 12, 2024 DA-BAFS Monitoring Team conducted monitoring activities to two of the DA-BAFS registered organic soil amendment producers in Davao City December 12, 2024 Assessment to a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group (Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur) December 12, 2024 Oath Taking Ceremony of DA-BAFS Newly Appointed Employees for FY 2024 December 6, 2024 ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) Surveillance Audit December 6, 2024 Validation Workshop with the DA-Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRAs) for the Study “Baseline Assessment on the Use and Impact of Philippines national Standards (PNS)” December 4, 2024 1 2 3 4 5

A field compliance assessment (FCA) was conducted to ongoing efficacy trials (EUPs) on November 21, 2024, in New Visayas and Bobongon, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte. The DA-BAFS assessment team conducted the FCA to verify the continued compliance of the ongoing efficacy trials with the approved EUP.The efficacy trial is conducted to assess the efficacy of the product against flower thrips of Cavendish Banana. During the activity, the application of treatments was done through bud injection. Flower trips were also observed in the dissected sample buds; however the pest is too minute to be captured in photos.The conduct of efficacy trials through an EUP is a prerequisite for the registration of Organic Bio-control Agents (OBCA) products.  #DABAFS #BAFSonthemove#OAregistration#OAassessment#OrganicAgriculture Field Compliance Assessment of Ongoing Efficacy Trials in Davao del Norte January 2, 2025 DA-BAFS Monitoring Team conducted monitoring activities to two of the DA-BAFS registered organic soil amendment producers in Davao City December 19, 2024 Assessment to a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group (Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur) December 12, 2024 Oath Taking Ceremony of DA-BAFS Newly Appointed Employees for FY 2024 December 6, 2024 ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) Surveillance Audit December 6, 2024 Validation Workshop with the DA-Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRAs) for the Study “Baseline Assessment on the Use and Impact of Philippines national Standards (PNS)” December 4, 2024 Oral Presentation of “BIOSTIMULANTS GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES” at the SAIN 4 SHGBEE3 (Siem Reap, Cambodia) November 22, 2024 DA-BAFS Support to the Celebration of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) November 22, 2024 1 2 3 4 5

The DA-BAFS Monitoring Team conducted monitoring activities to two of the DA-BAFS registered organic soil amendment producers and its products located in Davao City on November 19, 2024.The monitoring activity is conducted annually to verify the continued compliance of a BAFS-registered organic input producer to applicable technical regulations relevant to organic agriculture.#OAmonitoring#OAregistration#DABAFS#BAFSonthemove DA-BAFS Monitoring Team conducted monitoring activities to two of the DA-BAFS registered organic soil amendment producers in Davao City December 19, 2024 Assessment to a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group (Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur) December 12, 2024 Oath Taking Ceremony of DA-BAFS Newly Appointed Employees for FY 2024 December 6, 2024 ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) Surveillance Audit December 6, 2024 Validation Workshop with the DA-Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRAs) for the Study “Baseline Assessment on the Use and Impact of Philippines national Standards (PNS)” December 4, 2024 Oral Presentation of “BIOSTIMULANTS GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES” at the SAIN 4 SHGBEE3 (Siem Reap, Cambodia) November 22, 2024 DA-BAFS Support to the Celebration of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) November 22, 2024 Supervised Certification of PGS Group (Aborian and Quezon, Palawan) November 21, 2024 1 2 3 4 5

The DA-BAFS team conducted an assessment of a core PGS group in Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur, on December 3-5, 2024, to evaluate the group’s compliance with the PGS accreditation requirements. Accreditation ensures the group’s competence, consistency, and impartiality in delivering organic certification services. The assessment was supported by DA Regional Field Office, ATI-Regional Training Center of Zamboanga Peninsula, and Tigbao’s Local Government Unit. Learn more about the accreditation of PGS group as Organic Certifying Body thru this link: https://bit.ly/Orga#dabafs #OAassessment #PGSforOA #BAFSonthemove #DABAFS Assessment to a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group (Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur) December 12, 2024 Oath Taking Ceremony of DA-BAFS Newly Appointed Employees for FY 2024 December 6, 2024 ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) Surveillance Audit December 6, 2024 Validation Workshop with the DA-Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRAs) for the Study “Baseline Assessment on the Use and Impact of Philippines national Standards (PNS)” December 4, 2024 Oral Presentation of “BIOSTIMULANTS GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES” at the SAIN 4 SHGBEE3 (Siem Reap, Cambodia) November 22, 2024 DA-BAFS Support to the Celebration of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) November 22, 2024 Supervised Certification of PGS Group (Aborian and Quezon, Palawan) November 21, 2024 DA-BAFS Assessment Team conducted an assessment to a core PGS Group based in Amadeo, Cavite November 21, 2024 1 2 3 4

Eight newly appointed DA-BAFS employees took their oath on November 25, 2024, at the 2nd Floor of the DA-BAFS Building, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. The oath-taking ceremony was led by OIC-Director Mary Grace R. Mandigma, PFT, and was assisted by Ms. Roxanne P. Lizardo, Administrative Officer V, and Ms. Rosemarie V. Calibo, Information Officer III of the Administrative and Finance Services. The newly appointed employees include two Science Research Specialists for the Technical Services Division, one each for the Standards Research Division, and Standards Development Division, three for the Organic Agriculture Division, and one Chief Science Research Specialist, also for the Organic Agriculture Division. Following the congratulatory message from the OIC-Director, the Ceremonial Signing of Appointments took place. To conclude the activity, all newly appointed employees recited the “Oath of Office,” signifying their commitment and dedication to their new roles and responsibilities as public servants. Photo opportunities were conducted to document this significant professional growth and development of DA-Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards employees. (Photo by Mark Brian E. Umali and Lhesley Ann L. Bulanier) #BAFS2024#Achievement#RecruitmentandPromotion Oath Taking Ceremony of DA-BAFS Newly Appointed Employees for FY 2024 December 6, 2024 ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) Surveillance Audit December 6, 2024 Validation Workshop with the DA-Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRAs) for the Study “Baseline Assessment on the Use and Impact of Philippines national Standards (PNS)” December 4, 2024 Oral Presentation of “BIOSTIMULANTS GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES” at the SAIN 4 SHGBEE3 (Siem Reap, Cambodia) November 22, 2024 DA-BAFS Support to the Celebration of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) November 22, 2024 Supervised Certification of PGS Group (Aborian and Quezon, Palawan) November 21, 2024 DA-BAFS Assessment Team conducted an assessment to a core PGS Group based in Amadeo, Cavite November 21, 2024 Surveillance Audit to an Accredited PGS Group (Dimiao, Bohol) November 21, 2024 1 2 3 4

Inspectors from the DA-BAFS A Commitment to Quality Assurance Quality is the cornerstone of any successful organization and in the field of agriculture and fisheries, it plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of products and the competitiveness of the industry. The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (DA-BAFS), throughout the years, consistently strived to produce quality products and provide customer-focused services. A testament to this commitment to maintaining processes that yield quality deliverables is the continued satisfaction of the DA-BAFS to the ISO 9001:2015-Quality Management System (QMS) requirements validated through the 2nd Surveillance Audit held last December 2, 2024. Led by auditors Ms. Mary Danica Pelone and Ms. Zipporah Bernardo from TUV SUD PSB Inc., the surveillance audit aimed to review and verify the Bureau’s compliance with the ISO 9001:2015 requirements. BAFS OIC-Director Mary Grace R. Mandigma, process owners, and the concerned staff were actively involved throughout the audit process, demonstrating their commitment to quality assurance. During the closing meeting, the auditors presented the results of the surveillance audit, which identified a total of seven findings, all categorized as opportunities for improvement. While it is not uncommon to have findings in such audits, the most significant news is that the auditors concluded that the Bureau’s current Quality Management System (QMS) fully satisfied the ISO 9001:2015 requirements. #BAFS #ISOCertified Validation Workshop with the DA-Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRAs) for the Study “Baseline Assessment on the Use and Impact of Philippines national Standards (PNS)” December 23, 2024 ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) Surveillance Audit December 6, 2024 Oral Presentation of “BIOSTIMULANTS GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES” at the SAIN 4 SHGBEE3 (Siem Reap, Cambodia) November 22, 2024 DA-BAFS Support to the Celebration of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) November 22, 2024 Supervised Certification of PGS Group (Aborian and Quezon, Palawan) November 21, 2024 DA-BAFS Assessment Team conducted an assessment to a core PGS Group based in Amadeo, Cavite November 21, 2024 Surveillance Audit to an Accredited PGS Group (Dimiao, Bohol) November 21, 2024 Surveillance Audit of an Accredited PGS OCB (Itogon, Benguet) November 14, 2024 1 2 3 4

The DA-BAFS Technical Services Division presented the initial findings of the study titled Baseline Assessment of the Reach, Usefulness, and Use of Philippine National Standards (PNS) during a validation workshop with the DA – Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRAs). The workshop was held from November 13 to 14, 2024, in Baguio City. The main goal of the workshop was to validate the findings from the survey questionnaire and the focus group discussions (FGDs) with respondents from the eight DA-FSRAs. This ensured that the data collected were accurate and reflective of their responses. Additionally, the workshop aimed to determine if the responses aligned with the study objectives and provided relevant data. The data derived from this study will be used to enhance policies and mechanisms for improving standards development, promotion processes, and their products.#BAFS #PNSBaselineAssessment Validation Workshop with the DA-Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRAs) for the Study “Baseline Assessment on the Use and Impact of Philippines national Standards (PNS)” December 23, 2024 Oral Presentation of “BIOSTIMULANTS GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES” at the SAIN 4 SHGBEE3 (Siem Reap, Cambodia) November 22, 2024 DA-BAFS Support to the Celebration of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) November 22, 2024 Supervised Certification of PGS Group (Aborian and Quezon, Palawan) November 21, 2024 DA-BAFS Assessment Team conducted an assessment to a core PGS Group based in Amadeo, Cavite November 21, 2024 Surveillance Audit to an Accredited PGS Group (Dimiao, Bohol) November 21, 2024 Surveillance Audit of an Accredited PGS OCB (Itogon, Benguet) November 14, 2024 Surveillance Audit of an Accredited PGS OCB (Cabatuan, Iloilo) November 14, 2024 1 2 3 4