The amendment of the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 (RA 10068) is one of the significant milestones in the development of organic agriculture in the Philippines.

Small organic farmers in the Caraga region seem relieved that the wait is over. Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) is now recognized as an alternative scheme to make certification of organic produce through RA 11511.

PGS refers to a locally-focused quality assurance system that is developed and practiced by people engaged in organic agriculture.

Formerly, RA 10068 Section 17 stated that only products certified under third-party certification could be labeled as organic. This section act as a barrier for smallholder producers looking to access organic markets because of the high costs involved.

Even before the approval of the new Act, some of the organic farmers in Caraga were already practicing PGS. Out of the 3,919 organic farmer practitioners in the region, 163 individual farmers adhere to PGS standards and protocols.

Among those who waited for the amended law is Jhoanna Garcia, an organic practitioner for six years from Butuan City. “PGS initiatives are realistic and achievable given that it serves the smallholder farmers and local markets. PGS provides a lower-cost certification mechanism when compared to the Third-Party Certification. We are thankful that this is finally approved,” Garcia said.

Certification is essential along with the entire supply chain and is used by organic producers. It also serves as product assurance for consumers.

According to Victoriano I. Tagupa – Executive Director of the League of Organic Agriculture Municipalities, Cities of the Philippines (LOAMC-Ph) and Ambassador of Asian Local Governments for Organic Agriculture (ALGOA) of IFOAM-Asia, the recognition of PGS must not be viewed as a competition but as a complementary approach to the existing Third-Party Certification.

“PGS will now make it possible for farmers to label their products as organic. As a country with millions of smallholder farmers, the amendment will have a ripple effect not only to the farmers but to other stakeholders as well, especially the consumers where they will now be able to enjoy organic products produced by their local farmers,”Tagupa said.

Way forward

The Department of Agriculture (DA) through the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP) is now in its tenth year of implementation.

DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo assures that the promotion of organic agriculture as a sustainable farming system in the region will continue.

“It is expected that there will be major changes as RA 11511 will be implemented. The active engagement of farmers and the Local Government Units in the whole process plays a vital role in organic agriculture sector development. Mainstreaming PGS gains organic farmer’s credibility to produce more and will open new opportunities to benefit the organic agriculture stakeholders,” Monteagudo said.

Part of the strategies of the regional office is to create a Municipal/City Roadmap for CY 2022-2028, a comprehensive strategic plan that will serve as a guide for the implementation of the Organic Agriculture Program.