DA-BAFS Conducts 3rd Surveillance of TOFPA-COOP, the Philippines’ First Accredited PGS Group
Tublay, Benguet — The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (DA-BAFS) conducted the third surveillance of the Tublay Organic Farming Practitioners Agriculture Cooperative (TOFPA-COOP) on April 22–25, 2025 to monitor its compliance as an accredited Organic Certifying Body (OCB) under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS).
TOFPA-COOP, based in Tublay, Benguet, holds the distinction of being the first PGS group accredited in the Philippines since the national rollout of the PGS program in 2022. The cooperative has since served as a model for community-based organic certification.
The surveillance included an office-based assessment and witnessing of peer review activities to evaluate the group’s competence, impartiality, and consistency in operating as an OCB. Technical personnel from the DA Regional Field Office – Cordillera Administrative Region and the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) CAR assisted the DA-BAFS Assessment Team throughout the activity.
TOFPA-COOP’s performance during this surveillance reaffirms its continuing commitment to uphold the integrity and credibility of its certification work. The group’s experience as the first accredited PGS OCB sets a benchmark for newer groups, highlighting the importance of maintaining high standards in peer review and certification processes.
The outcome of the surveillance will guide TOFPA-COOP’s next steps to strengthen its operations and ensure sustained compliance with accreditation requirements. This activity reflects DA-BAFS’ sustained efforts to promote credible organic certification through PGS, helping build trust among farmers, consumers, and local communities in the country’s organic sector.
