PILI, CAMARINES SUR | November 28, 2022 – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority Bicol Region presented its 2022 accomplishments in the Stakeholders Consultative Meeting happened last November 24, 2022, at Troy’s Diner, Pili, Camarines Sur.

FPA Regional Officer (RO) Gabriel Atole met the 24 fertilizer and pesticide (F/P) area distributors and company representatives and presented the region’s accomplishments for January to October 2022. He also highlighted the importance of cooperation between the different handlers and consumers, particularly in the monitoring of their product stewardship activities.

In addition, he encouraged the stakeholders to coordinate with FPA provincial officers, especially if they were planning to conduct an activity in their respective areas.

Mr. Rodny P. Conda, the Provincial Officer of FPA-Masbate, discussed the updates on the laws and the latest issuance of the FPA. He emphasized the following points:

• MC No. 20 s. 2022 – Processing to operate as dealer, dealer-repacker, area distributor, institutional user (plantation), pest control operator, and mango contractor and warehouses registration certificates at Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority Regional Field Units (RFUs)

• MC No. 23 s. 2022 – Suspension of existing product registrations and license of handlers using the “Spinning Palanggana” Method in fertilizer production and temporary non-acceptance of new and renewal applications for license and registration of fertilizers derived from the said method

• MC No. 26 s. 2022 – Revocation of the Memorandum Circular No. 08 Series of 2022 (Acceptance of Laboratory Test Results for Registration and Quality Monitoring of Fertilizer and Pesticide Products)

• MC No. 27 s. 2022 – Procedures on the submission of samples for fertilizer product registration (New and Renewal)

• MC No. 28, s. 2022 – Weighing of stocks before acceptance

• MC No. 33, s. 2022 – Notice on the use of the Fertilizer Regulations Division (FRD)’s revised application and report forms

PO Conda also gave a tour on the FPA website, especially in finding the laws and memorandum issuances, and other new features.

Afterward, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office V Rice Program Technical Staff, Ms. Ladylyn Nebrea, informed the stakeholders of the updates on the fertilizer discount voucher (FDV) program and walked them through the budget and area target for the program. She also mentioned the provinces without DA’s accredited merchants as well as its requirements.

RO Atole later pointed out the role of FPA in the implementation of FDV, particularly in the monitoring of the quality of fertilizer through random weighing, sample collection for laboratory analysis, as well as the weekly fertilizer price and stock inventory. ###