SAN AGUSTIN, PILI, CAMARINES SUR – Close to 30 farmers recently completed a one-day seminar on Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) here on June 30, 2025.

Conducted by the Regulatory Division, the training aimed to promote PhilGAP certification, to help farms follow standards in producing safe, high-quality crops with acceptable pesticide residue levels.

Among the mandate of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is to promote food safety, through the Food Safety Act of 2013 (Republic Act No. 10611)  which laid out a comprehensive food safety regulatory system to protect the consumers.

The highlight of the seminar was the pesticide residue testing demonstration using the Mobile Laboratory brought by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) from Metro Manila, which showed how random produce sampling is done to ensure food safety.

Dr. Ailene Galvez and Carmina Hadji Ali from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) discussed the principles, benefits, and certification process of PhilGAP. Sherwin Dostillos of the Regional Crop Protection Center presented integrated pest management techniques, including the use of biocontrol agents and manual removal of infested plant parts, aimed at minimizing the use of chemical pesticides. This approach helps reduce health risks associated with excessive pesticide residues in food.

 Engr. Christopher Nuñez of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) lectured on proper handling of agrochemicals, including reading product labels and safe disposal.

The training is a step toward raising awareness and building capacity for PhilGAP compliance among local farmers, as PhilGAP is not only about producing safe food, but also promoting safe environment and ensuring the safety of the farm  workers. (Vincent Emil Pasumbal)