The DA-Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) successfully conducted a three-day Capability-building Workshop on Certification and Accreditation for Organic Agriculture on August 19–21, 2025 in Subic, Zambales. The activity is meant for potential inspectors and assessors to be tapped by DA-BAFS, alongside members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Organic Certification and Accreditation, to build a stronger pool of experts supporting the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS).
The workshop gathered DA Regional Field Offices – Regulatory Division Personnel, DA-National Dairy Authority (NDA), DA-Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), DA-Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), DA-Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), DOH-Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division.
The activity aimed to strengthen competencies on the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) and enhance understanding of certification, accreditation processes, and relevant guidelines on auditing. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on organic standards, auditing processes, and the process for accrediting PGS groups as Organic Certifying Bodies (OCBs). They also shared insights and experiences that will guide their roles in certification and accreditation. Feedback underscored the relevance and timeliness of the workshop. Participants described it as “fruitful,” “informative,” and “excellent.” They commended the facilitators for their competence and approachability and expressed the need for similar capacity-building activities to be conducted regularly. Suggestions were also raised for more hands-on audit training and refresher courses to build further competence.
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment among participants to apply the knowledge and skills gained in their respective roles and to cascade the learnings within their organizations. By investing in capacity development, DA-BAFS continues to fulfill its mandate of strengthening the integrity of organic certification and accreditation systems in the Philippines, ensuring that organic agriculture certification systems remain credible, reliable, and trusted by stakeholders.
