October 06, 2025 | Quezon City – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) reinforced its commitment to quality, accountability, and continuous improvement through a series of specialized trainings in September 2025, focusing on Risk and Opportunity Management and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) under the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS).

Organized by the FPA QMS Committee and the Management Section of the Planning, Management and Information Division (PMID), the sessions were facilitated by Engr. Jaymie Catibayan of Quality Plus Management Consulting Co. A total of 70 employees participated—face-to-face for Central Office staff and virtually for personnel from the regional field units—ensuring broad engagement across the agency.

Risk and Opportunity Management

Held on September 24–25, 2025, the training on ISO 9001:2015 Risk and Opportunity Management guided FPA personnel in identifying, evaluating, and addressing factors that could affect the quality of the agency’s products, services, and processes.

Engr. Catibayan discussed the distinction between Risk Analysis—the process of identifying potential events or conditions that may hinder objectives—and Risk Evaluation, which involves comparing the level of risk against set criteria to determine its significance and priority.

She introduced the Risk Treatment Plan, a structured approach for managing identified risks to minimize adverse impacts or enhance positive outcomes. Treatment strategies include reduction, transfer, avoidance, elimination, acceptance, and in some cases, increasing the risk when it offers potential benefits. Each plan must identify the responsible unit, required resources, timeline, and monitoring mechanism.

While risk management focuses on mitigating threats, Engr. Catibayan underscored that Opportunity Management aims to harness positive changes for innovation and service improvement. She cited examples such as process modernization and regulatory streamlining that enhance compliance and operational efficiency.

During workshops, participants identified potential agency risks, formulated treatment plans, and determined opportunities for innovation and improved public service delivery.

Through this training, the FPA reaffirmed its proactive approach to quality assurance—anticipating challenges, leveraging opportunities, and sustaining efficiency and stakeholder responsiveness.

Root Cause Analysis

Continuing its capacity-building efforts, the FPA conducted a training on Root Cause Analysis on September 30, 2025, also facilitated by Engr. Catibayan. The session emphasized the difference between Correction—the immediate remedy for a nonconformity—and Corrective Action, which eliminates the underlying cause to prevent recurrence.

Participants learned to apply evidence-based tools such as the 5 Whys, Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram, and Pareto Analysis to identify true process failures. Techniques like the Decision Matrix and Force Field Analysis were also introduced for evaluating and implementing effective corrective actions.

Using insights from internal audits conducted earlier in the year, participants practiced RCA on actual agency processes. The exercise strengthened their ability to resolve issues systematically and uphold ISO 9001:2015 standards for operational efficiency and accountability.

Commitment to Quality and Continuous Improvement

The FPA’s pursuit of excellence goes beyond compliance. By integrating risk management, opportunity development, and root cause analysis, the agency continues to build a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.

Each initiative reinforces the FPA’s mission to deliver efficient, transparent, and high-quality public service—advancing its mandate to ensure the safe, judicious, and sustainable use of fertilizers and pesticides across the country.

Writer: Wendycharlene Almasen

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