July 27, 2026 | Quezon City — The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) and FARM Philippines strengthened their collaboration on the digital transformation of FPA regulatory services through the signing of a Statement of Cooperation (SOC) and the conduct of a three-day workshop aimed at streamlining and redesigning the Agency’s processes before their transition to digital platforms.
Held from July 22 to 24, 2026, at the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in Quezon City, the Workshop on Developing Business Process Models (BPMs) for the Digital Transformation of FPA Services brought together FPA personnel, FARM Philippines representatives, pesticide industry stakeholders, and partner agencies to develop streamlined, digitally enabled workflows for key regulatory and frontline services.
The workshop was conducted in collaboration with FARM Philippines, a joint initiative of the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Participants reviewed existing FPA processes, examined digitalization initiatives of other regulatory agencies, and drew on guidance from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to identify unnecessary steps, process gaps, redundant requirements, and opportunities to improve service delivery.
FPA Executive Director Glenn DC. Estrada emphasized that digital transformation should begin with improving the underlying processes rather than simply transferring existing procedures to an online platform.
“Transformation does not begin with technology. It begins with the courage to question how we work. If we automate an inefficient process, we simply make inefficiency happen faster,” Estrada said.
“That is why this workshop is so important. We are not simply mapping workflows. We are redesigning how the FPA serves the Filipino people,” he added.
Estrada said the BPMs developed during the workshop will ultimately shape how stakeholders experience FPA services once these are digitalized.
“The BPMs we create here may appear as diagrams on paper, but in reality, they represent something much greater. They represent the future experience of every Filipino who will one day transact with the FPA. Let us ensure that the future we design is one that reflects excellence, accountability, innovation, and genuine public service,” he said.
FPA, FARM Philippines strengthen cooperation
During the activity, Estrada and FARM Philippines Assistant Project Manager Ryan Lawrence Polinag signed the SOC, strengthening cooperation on initiatives supporting the digital transformation of FPA services and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices and regulatory processes.
The partnership also contributes to the implementation of Component 3: Capacity Building and Awareness of FARM Philippines, particularly the design and development of the project’s Digital Hub. The BPMs and streamlined workflows developed through the workshop will help establish the processes, data requirements, and system linkages needed to support the Digital Hub and align it with FPA’s ongoing digitalization initiatives.
Through this collaboration, FPA and FARM Philippines aim to ensure that digital solutions are built on streamlined regulatory processes and harmonized data, while improving access to reliable fertilizer and pesticide information for regulators, farmers, industry stakeholders, and other users.
Mapping workflows, streamlining requirements
The first day of the workshop focused on developing proposed “To-Be” process workflows, with FPA personnel mapping regulatory processes and requirements to identify gaps, redundancies, administrative burdens, and opportunities for simplification.
Participants were also introduced to digital systems adopted by other regulatory agencies, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), providing insights into how digital platforms can improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability in government transactions.
On the second day, participants reviewed and refined proposed BPMs covering FPA’s regulatory and frontline services. Information technology personnel from the Planning, Management, and Information Division (PMID) also presented the Agency’s developing data management platform and discussed how standardized datasets and information requirements could support FPA’s proposed online systems and the development of the FARM Philippines Digital Hub.
The third day focused on streamlining applicant processing and harmonizing data and documentary requirements based on the draft BPMs developed during the workshop. Participants also examined which processes could be undertaken sequentially or in parallel to reduce processing time, while identifying regulatory and administrative requirements that may unnecessarily burden stakeholders.
The activity underscored the importance of establishing standardized datasets, addressing duplicate and inconsistent records, distinguishing public from confidential information, and ensuring that future digital systems are built on accurate and harmonized data.
Building on FPA’s digital transformation
The workshop forms part of FPA’s broader digital transformation agenda and builds on earlier business process reengineering initiatives, including the March 2026 review and redesign of the pesticide product registration process. At the same time, it supports FARM Philippines’ efforts under Component 3 to strengthen institutional capacity and develop digital tools that improve access to regulatory information and support more sustainable management of fertilizers and pesticides.
FPA’s transition toward digital regulatory services began in 2024 with the implementation of the FPA Trade System, an online platform for transactions between the Agency and regulated stakeholders. Fertilizer handler licensing was transitioned to the platform in 2024, followed by accreditation services in 2025.
Through its continuing process reengineering and digitalization initiatives and its collaboration with FARM Philippines, FPA aims to establish simpler, faster, transparent, and citizen-centered regulatory services while ensuring that future digital platforms, including the Digital Hub, are supported by streamlined workflows, standardized data, and sound regulatory processes.
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Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Online ISSN: 2815-1674
Published by the FPA Information and Communications Team
Writer: Fernando Pierre Marcel Dela Cruz, Information Officer I