Cagayan is celebrating a milestone of sustainability and shared responsibility. Five core farmer-members of the Soil Regenerative Advocates of Cagayan Participatory Guarantee System Inc. (SRAC PGS Inc.) have officially earned their Participatory Organic Certification under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)—with validity from April 22, 2026 to April 21, 2029.
This certification is more than proof of compliance. It reflects a collective commitment to sustainable farming, safe food, and community trust, in alignment with the Philippine National Standards for Organic Agriculture. For these farmers, certification stands as an achievement earned through consistency, care, and collaboration.
List of Newly Certified Core Farmer-Members whose dedication has been recognized:
- Mr. Erwin T. Invierno — Invierno Lucky Integrated Farm
- Mr. Boyet C. Pattung — Boyet’s Agro-Organic Farm
- Ms. Aurabelle D. Ali — Maqil Dian. Ali Farm
- Mr. Cornelio A. Usabal — AVU’s Integrated Farm
- Mr. Rolando D. Baltazar — Baltazar Farm
A Journey Built on Training, Coaching, and Shared Effort
Behind this certification is a journey of determination—marked by capacity-building, guidance, and verification.
The process began with PGS formation training held on June 23–27, 2025, followed by farm pre-assessments, continuous coaching and mentoring, and an official inspection by DA-BAFS and DA RFO Regulatory conducted from February 9–13, 2026.
This success was made possible through the collective efforts of:
• the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 02 Organic Agriculture Program
• ATI RTC 2
• DA RFO 02 experiment stations
• the Local Government Unit of Lal-lo
• and, most importantly, the farmer-members themselves
The POC: A Seal of Integrity and Trust
The issuance of the Participatory Organic Certificate (POC) serves as a strong affirmation that the farmer-members—and the commodities listed in Annex A—were inspected by the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) and found compliant with the current Philippine National Standards for Organic Agriculture.
The certification covers both plant and animal production, along with other applicable regulations for organic agriculture—reinforcing trust not only in the farm practices, but also in the organic certification system itself.
Recognition for Local Leadership
Special recognition is extended to the Local Government Unit of Lal-lo, through the Municipal Agriculture Office led by the Municipal Agriculturist, for their continued guidance and support throughout the process.
Moving Closer to Full PGS Group Accreditation
Finally, this achievement plays a key role in SRAC PGS Inc.’s broader pathway toward full PGS group accreditation—an important step forward toward Accreditation to become an Organic Certifying Body.
Congratulations again to SRAC PGS Inc. and its newly certified core farmer-members. This milestone strengthens organic agriculture in Cagayan—one farm, one practice, and one community of trust at a time.
Via Dr. Ferdinand Cortez