Recognizing that safe and quality food begins at the farm level, the Department of Agriculture-Caraga (DA-Caraga), through its Regulatory Division, has taken a proactive step to strengthen food safety initiatives in the region. A two-day Orientation Seminar on the Food Safety Certification Program: Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) was conducted on May 14–15, 2025, in Butuan City. 

GAHP is a set of guidelines that help farmers raise healthy animals in a clean and safe environment, ensuring the meat, milk, and eggs they produce are safe, high-quality, and compliant with Philippine National Standards (PNS). 

The activity gathered farmers, veterinarians, and representatives from Local Government Units (LGUs) across Caraga. It primarily aimed to capacitate the beneficiaries of the Livestock Economic Enterprise Development (LEED) Program of the DA on the GAHP certification process. 

Regulatory Division Chief Johnny Concon emphasized the importance of obtaining this certification, highlighting its role in protecting consumer health and strengthening the region’s agri-food sector. 

“This certification is not just a regulatory requirement; it’s a tool that empowers our farmers to produce safe, market-ready, and globally competitive products,” Concon said. 

He also underscored the need for stakeholders to familiarize themselves with the PNS on GAHP. This includes proper farm production management, animal health care, biosecurity measures, and accurate record-keeping—all of which are key to ensuring traceability in farm operations. 

“In certification, it’s important that our farm production management is traceable because we focus on food safety,” Concon explained. “By maintaining good records and following standard practices, we protect not just the animals and our farms, but more importantly, the consumers,” he added. 

In addition to technical discussions, the activity also served as a venue for clarifying certification processes, regulatory guidelines, and the responsibilities of farmers, LGUs, and partner agencies in upholding food safety across the value chain. 

Resource speakers for the orientation included Euneil Atalo and Jane Dy, both Agriculturist II, who provided valuable insights and addressed participants’ questions. 

(Lovely Joy L. Saludez/DA-Caraga, RAFIS)