The Department of Agriculture– Cordillera (DA-CAR) hosted the official launch of a capstone project titled “PhilGAP Certification Process for Small-hold Fruit and Vegetable Farms” on April 8, 2025 in Baguio City.

Leading the Project is Dr. Leisley C. Deligen, Officer-in-Charge of the Field Operations Division of DA-CAR. This initiative is carried out in partnership with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)-certified farm owners. The project forms part of his academic requirement under the Development Academy of the Philippines’ (DAP) public management program.

In his presentation, Dr. Deligen emphasized the importance of streamlining the Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) certification process, particularly for small-hold fruit and vegetable farmers. According to him, the initiative aims to develop a more accessible and efficient system for these farmers to achieve and maintain GAP certification.

As part of the project’s launch activities, a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and co-creation workshop were conducted to gather valuable insights from key stakeholders. The session was led by Dr. Leonora Verzola, with support from Mr. Doweno Santiago, Regional GAP Focal Person; Mr. Melchor Tumbaga, Assistant GAP Focal Person; and Ms. Mylene Cadalig and Ms. Leiza Calantas from the Regulatory Division. Participants included both new applicants and renewing GAP-certified farm owners, along with GAP Municipal Focal Persons representing various municipalities across Benguet province.

The discussion revealed a number of recurring challenges that farmers face in complying with GAP requirements. Among the most pressing issues raised were the lack of a secure market for GAP-certified products, the minimal price difference compared to conventionally grown produce, and the short validity period of the certification. Farmers also reported delays in receiving soil test results, the absence of proper disposal facilities for pesticide containers, and difficulties arising from being located near non-GAP-compliant farms.

On the other hand, GAP Focal Persons also shared their own set of concerns. These included the prolonged waiting time for the release of certificates, a noticeable decline in the number of new applicants, and the burden of juggling GAP responsibilities with their other official duties.

The findings from the FGD will serve as a foundation for the development of a streamlined certification process that will be piloted in the BLISTT (Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay) areas. Through this initiative, the project team hopes to create a model that not only simplifies compliance for small-scale farmers but also informs future policy formulation to support a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector.//Leny D. Mendoza