January 30, 2026 | Quezon City – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) formally renewed its partnership with its accredited training associations through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the FPA Board Room, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City, on January 23, 2026.

The MOU signing marked a significant milestone in strengthening institutional partnerships and ensuring that capacity-building programs remain aligned with the FPA policies, standards, and regulatory frameworks.

In his welcome message, FPA Executive Director Glenn DC. Estrada underscored the importance of sustained collaboration with the FPA Accredited Training Association (FATA) in advancing FPA’s mandate to safeguard public health, environmental safety, and the integrity of agricultural inputs regulation. 

“Continued engagement of training partners reflects a shared responsibility in promoting correct and safe use of fertilizers and pesticides nationwide,” he said.

Shift to Face-to-Face Training for Enhanced Learning

One of the key highlights of this year’s MOU is the shift from online to face-to-face training activities, aimed at further enhancing participants’ learning experience through more interactive discussions, hands-on exercises, and direct engagement with trainers. This transition is expected to strengthen comprehension, skills development, and practical application of regulatory requirements among trainees.

The MOU was formally signed with the following FPA-Accredited Training Associations (FATA):

• Philippine Federation of Pest Management Operators’ Association (PFPMOA) Foundation Inc.
• Philippines Association of Certified Pesticide Applicators (PACPA)
• Philippine Association of Entomologists, Inc. (PAE)
• Philippine Association of Professional Fumigators, Inc. (PAPFI)
• Kapisanan ng mga Pest Control Operators, Inc. (KAPESTCOPI)
• PMCP Foundation, Inc. (PMCPFI)

The partner associations were recognized for their continued commitment to producing competent and skilled agricultural professionals in support of industry development.

2026 Training and Symposia Schedule

For individuals interested in participating, the official schedule of FPA trainings and symposia for 2026 can be found in the table below:

Table 1. Schedule for FATA Training for Agricultural CPA-Fumigator

Table 2. Schedule for FATA Training for Agricultural CPA-Exterminator

Table 3. Schedule for FATA Training for Accredited Responsible Care Officer

Table 4. Schedule for FATA Training for F/P Researcher (Bioefficacy and SPRT Researcher)

Table 5. Schedule for 2026 Symposium

Table 6. Schedule of examination for applicants/trainees (2025 and earlier)

2025 accreditation training accomplishments

In 2025, FATA conducted 25 accreditation trainings, benefiting 606 individuals, with 322 examinees for accreditation as pesticide applicators and responsible care officers. Results revealed that 42.65% passed the CPA Fumigator while 48.53% passed the CPA Exterminator. Meanwhile, 79.66% passed the ARCO exam (Table 7). 

Table 7. Distribution of training conducted, participants, and examination results by type of accreditation

Moreover, 13 symposia were conducted nationwide, reaching 1,703 participants, reflecting the sustained impact of FATA-led capacity-building (Table 8).

Table 8. Distribution of symposiums conducted and the number of attendees by training association (FATA)

Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Executive Director for Fertilizer Gerardo T. Santiago concluded the event with a message highlighting the value of mentorship, continuous learning, and strong partnerships in strengthening the Agency. He underscored the vital role of FPA-Accredited training Associations as partners in enhancing competencies and improving institutional performance, expressing appreciation for their continued support, commitment, and long-term collaboration with the FPA.

The FPA also expressed confidence that the renewed partnership will further strengthen policy coherence and collaboration as the Agency and its partners collectively advance responsible fertilizer and pesticide management and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Writer: Rochelle M. Ocbina – Information Officer II

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Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Online ISSN: 2815-1674
Published by the FPA Information and Communications Team