The DA-BAFS Assessment Team conducted a surveillance assessment for the Pototan Organic Practitioners Association (POPA) from September 16-18, 2024. The surveillance aimed to verify POPA’s continued compliance with the accreditation requirements as an Organic Certifying Body (OCB).The team assessed the implementation of POPA’s Manual of Operations, witnessed the conduct of the group’s peer review process, and thoroughly reviewed the documentation and pertinent records maintained by the association. The conduct of the activity was supported by the DA-Regional Field Office and ATI-Regional Training Center of Western Visayas, with representatives from the Local Government Unit (LGU) also in attendance.Learn more about the accreditation of PGS group as OCB through this link: bit.ly/OrganicPGS#OAassessment#PGSforOA#OrganicAgriculture#BAFSonthemove#DABAFS Published by Lyreaj Somar DA-BAFS assessment team conducted a field compliance assessment (FCA) of ongoing efficacy trials in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. September 19, 2024 DA-BAFS Assessment Team conducted a surveillance assessment for the Pototan Organic Practitioners Association (POPA) September 19, 2024 Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division, DA-Regional Field Office IV-CALABARZON Regulatory Division and Organic Agriculture Program monitored registered organic input producer and product in Batangas September 19, 2024 DA-BAFS Standards Development Division (SDD), together with the Technical Working Group (TWG), conducted a 5-day Finalization Writeshop September 18, 2024 1 2

The Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division, DA-Regional Field Office IV-CALABARZON Regulatory Division and Organic Agriculture Program monitored registered organic input producer and product in Batangas on September 12, 2024.The monitoring activity is conducted annually to verify the continued compliance of a BAFS-registered organic input producer to applicable Philippine National Standards and technical regulations relevant to organic agriculture.#DABAFS#BAFSonthemove#OAmonitoring#OAregistration#OrganicAgriculture Published by Lyreaj Somar DA-BAFS assessment team conducted a field compliance assessment (FCA) of ongoing efficacy trials in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. September 19, 2024 DA-BAFS Assessment Team conducted a surveillance assessment for the Pototan Organic Practitioners Association (POPA) September 19, 2024 Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division, DA-Regional Field Office IV-CALABARZON Regulatory Division and Organic Agriculture Program monitored registered organic input producer and product in Batangas September 19, 2024 DA-BAFS Standards Development Division (SDD), together with the Technical Working Group (TWG), conducted a 5-day Finalization Writeshop September 18, 2024 1 2

The DA-BAFS Standards Development Division (SDD), together with the Technical Working Group (TWG), conducted a 5-day Finalization Writeshop on September 9 to 13, 2024, at the Boy Scouts of The Philippines, Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna. The workshop intends to expedite the finalization of the proposed final drafts of the two (2) Philippine National Standards (PNS): Agricultural and Fishery Pumpset— Specifications and Agricultural and Fishery Pumpset— Methods of Test. These Standards will be endorsed to the DA-Secretary for approval prior to their promulgation.The TWG of the mentioned PNS, is composed of the experts from various organizations including, DA-Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), DA-Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE), DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Metal Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) – Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (IABE), UPLB – Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC), UPLB – Center for Agri-Fisheries and Biosystems and Mechanization, Philippine Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (PSABE) Inc., Central Isabela Agri-Manufacturing Corporation (CIAMC), and the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED) of the DA Regional Field Office (RFO)- CALABARZON.#BAFSOntheMove#Pumpset#BAFSSDD  Published by Lyreaj Somar DA-BAFS assessment team conducted a field compliance assessment (FCA) of ongoing efficacy trials in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. September 19, 2024 DA-BAFS Assessment Team conducted a surveillance assessment for the Pototan Organic Practitioners Association (POPA) September 19, 2024 Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division, DA-Regional Field Office IV-CALABARZON Regulatory Division and Organic Agriculture Program monitored registered organic input producer and product in Batangas September 19, 2024 DA-BAFS Standards Development Division (SDD), together with the Technical Working Group (TWG), conducted a 5-day Finalization Writeshop September 18, 2024 1 2

The DA-BAFS, in collaboration with Technical Working Group (TWG) members, Ms. Joji Pantoja and Mr. Gerome Sumagaysay from Coffee for Peace, Inc., along with Mr. Emmanuel Belviz, and Ms. Mary Grace Belviz from Belviz Farm, Dr. Lorna Herradura of BPI Davao Research Center and with support from DA-RFO 11, conducted a field data gathering activity in Davao City on September 11-12, 2024.This initiative is part of the development of the Illustrative Guides (IG) for the Philippine National Standards (PNS) on Green Coffee Beans – Specifications and Fresh Fruit – Durian. The team documented the specifications and grading for both commodities, which is crucial in developing the IG.The IG serves as a supporting document for the PNS, providing visual representations to clarify specific provisions and requirements outlined in the standards.#BAFSOnTheMove#PNSGreenCoffeeBeans Published by Lyreaj Somar DA-BAFS assessment team conducted a field compliance assessment (FCA) of ongoing efficacy trials in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. September 19, 2024 DA-BAFS Assessment Team conducted a surveillance assessment for the Pototan Organic Practitioners Association (POPA) September 19, 2024 Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division, DA-Regional Field Office IV-CALABARZON Regulatory Division and Organic Agriculture Program monitored registered organic input producer and product in Batangas September 19, 2024 DA-BAFS Standards Development Division (SDD), together with the Technical Working Group (TWG), conducted a 5-day Finalization Writeshop September 18, 2024 1 2

The DA-BAFS Technical Services Division organized focus group discussions for the study titled “Assessment of the Use of Philippine National Standards (PNS)” on August 27, September 4, and September 11, 2024, in Olongapo, Laguna, and Cavite, with participants from the eight DA Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRA).The study aims to gather insights on the reach, usefulness, and application of the PNS in DA regulations, food safety policies, IEC materials or L&D activities. The methods of the study referred to the 2022 Codex study titled “Use and Impact of Codex Texts”, with modifications to suit the Philippine context.Additionally, the study seeks to collect evidence-based information to support the enhancement of DA-BAFS standards-related services (i.e., standards development and promotion) and products (i.e., PNS).This initiative is being conducted in line with the DA BAFS mandate as provided in the Food Safety Act of 2013. The DA-FSRA is composed of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), National Dairy Authority (NDA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA).#bafsonthemove #PNS #BAFSTSD  Published by Lyreaj Somar DA-BAFS assessment team conducted a field compliance assessment (FCA) of ongoing efficacy trials in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. September 19, 2024 DA-BAFS Assessment Team conducted a surveillance assessment for the Pototan Organic Practitioners Association (POPA) September 19, 2024 Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division, DA-Regional Field Office IV-CALABARZON Regulatory Division and Organic Agriculture Program monitored registered organic input producer and product in Batangas September 19, 2024 DA-BAFS Standards Development Division (SDD), together with the Technical Working Group (TWG), conducted a 5-day Finalization Writeshop September 18, 2024 1 2

Inspectors from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region III Regulatory Division inspected five core PGS group farmer-members in Norzagaray and Angat, Bulacan from August 27-29, 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, Municipal Agriculture Office of Norzagaray and Angat and the Provincial Agriculture Office of Bulacan assisted in the activity. #DABAFS #BAFSonthemove #OAinspection #PGSforOA #OrganicAgriculture Published by Lyreaj Somar DA-BAFS assessment team conducted a field compliance assessment (FCA) of ongoing efficacy trials in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. September 19, 2024 DA-BAFS Assessment Team conducted a surveillance assessment for the Pototan Organic Practitioners Association (POPA) September 19, 2024 Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division, DA-Regional Field Office IV-CALABARZON Regulatory Division and Organic Agriculture Program monitored registered organic input producer and product in Batangas September 19, 2024 DA-BAFS Standards Development Division (SDD), together with the Technical Working Group (TWG), conducted a 5-day Finalization Writeshop September 18, 2024 1 2