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Awarding of certificates for the first GAP-certified farms in Batangas

 

The Department of Agriculture (DA) CALABARZON Research and Development Division is currently conducting a project titled, “Adoption of the Protocol for the Establishment of Certified Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Farms for High Value Crops in Region 4A (EC-GAP).”

One of the objectives of the project is to increase the number of GAP-certified farms in CALABARZON. A certificate is given to farm/farmer which/who complied with the standards of GAP to ensure production of safe and quality foods with considerations to the environment and workers’ health, welfare, and safety.

During the flag raising ceremony on February 4, 2019 at the Provincial Capitol of Batangas in Batangas City, two farms/farmers were awarded with GAP certificates namely Lucky Five Farms/Josue Barcelo and Bobihis Farm/Rowell and Bonifacio Bobihis from Rosario and Taal, Batangas, respectively. The certificates were handed by Batangas Governor Hon. Hermilando I. Mandanas, Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Pablito A. Balantac, and DA CALABARZON Research Division Chief Digna P. Narvacan. The said farms were given technical and financial assistance from the project headed by Rosemarie Bautista-Olfato, Supervising Science Research Specialist and Virgilia D. Arellano, Senior Science Research Specialist from the Research Division, in collaboration with the Regulatory Division headed by Rufina S. Sanidad. The certification process was made possible through the assistance of the Batangas GAP Focal Person Melinda T. Mendoza and Municipal Agriculturist of Rosario, Batangas Pablita L. Quizon.

The awarding of certificate also shows the collaborative efforts of different government institutions in the region for the continued implementation of the GAP Certification Program. · DA-STIARC-Research Division