LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Sixty-one farmers from the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province, received their Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certificates during the opening program of the Food Safety Caravan Cum Food Safety Compliance Officer’s Training on October 17, 2024. The activity included the opening of the exhibit booth at the Agricultural Training Institute-Cordillera in La Trinidad featuring the produce of PhilGAP-certified farmer cooperatives and associations from the region and quality planting materials from trusted companies and suppliers.
Over-all, from the inspected farms around Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province from March to August this year, 90 farms passed, however, only 61 farmers came to receive their certificates.
In his welcoming remarks, Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan shared that sharing and loving while learning from one another is the main essence of the two-day activity. He also encouraged the visitors especially from regions I, II, III and IV-A to have a tour around La Trinidad to mingle and communicate with people in the area.
On the other hand, William F. Mugot of the Plant Product Safety Services Division Chief of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), congratulated the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for having the most number of GAP-certified farms in the country. “Out of the 1,863 active GAP-certified farms, 528 are from this region,” he said. In addition, he also shared how they are looking for marketplaces and links, like with the Robinsons who have already allotted stalls for the GAP certified farm owners. He also challenged the PhilGAP passers to apply for the ASEAN GAP certification if they want to export their produce.
Dr. Kevin Jim B. Luna, who represented DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Atty. Jennilyn M. Dawayan, shared that CAR has consistently held the most number of GAP certified since 2019 and that was made possible through the coordination, collaboration and unity among the regional field offices and partner local government units (LGUs). “The efforts of our partner LGUs are very critical and one of our ways forward is to look into the other provinces, not just Benguet, Mountain Province, and Ifugao,” he added. Further, he mentioned that other regions are also producing highland vegetables and fruits so the farmers must be keen on the quality and food safety of their produce while upgrading the farming system and making GAP the standard farming practice in the region to have an advantage in terms of marketing.
The Safety Caravan Cum Food Safety Compliance Officer’s Training also included the introduction and demonstration of BPI Mobile Food Safety and a two-day training for the food business operators coming from regions I, II, III, IVA and CAR.
Other key personnels who joined the program were Benjamin Makadangdang who represented Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Delina Juan who represented Benguet Governor Melchor Daguines Diclas and Christine B. Esnara, Chief and High Value Crop Development Program Focal of Agricultural Training Institute, Cordillera. By Tan B. Dulag