Bago City in Negros Occidental is supporting the participatory guarantee system (PGS) certification of more organic practitioners under the Negros Island Organic Producers Association (NIOPA) ahead of the province’s hosting of the Organic World Congress next year.
The new set of officers of NIOPA, the first PGS organic certifying body (OCB) in Negros Occidental based in Bago. took their oath before Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao at the City Mayor’s Office Thursday afternoon, September 3.
NIOPA president Arsenio de la Torre informed the mayor that 50 NIOPA farmer-members have availed of the 50 percent PGS subsidy from the city government, of whom 12 have already obtained participatory organic certificate.
“We are pushing for the certification of more organic practitioners in the city. It will enable them to better position their products in the market, especially in terms of pricing,” he added.
De la Torre said the application of the remaining 38 farmers is scheduled for inspection and review, noting that NIOPA aims to complete their certification before the 22nd Organic World Congress to be hosted by Negros Occidental in November 2027.
As an OCB, the NIOPA obtained accreditation from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards.
Last year, the NIOPA received PHP375,000 in subsidy from the city government for the PGS certification program covering various crops such as vegetables and fruit trees.
The amount covers 50 percent of the certification fee for 50 organic farmers. The total certification fee is PHP15,000, and each participating farmer receives PHP7,500 in assistance.
According to the DA-National Organic Agriculture Program, the PGS is the mechanism by which small farmers/fisherfolk and their farms/associations/cooperatives shall be certified as engaged in organic agriculture and producers of organic agriculture products.
The participatory organic certification from a government agency or OCB shall be promoted and accepted.
The products certified through the PGS shall be traded only in the domestic market, unless covered by an international certification or a mutual recognition agreement.*PNA
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