PCAF, BPI launch upgraded pesticide residue laboratories; grateful for at Japan’s 2KR program

DA Assistant Secretary for Regulation and BPI OIC Director Paz Benavidez II (third from left) and Japan First Secretary for Agriculture Kenji Terada (second from left), assisted by PCAF Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan and DA Records Division Chief Dennis Arpia, unveil the marker of the 2KR-assisted project entitled “Upgrading of Pesticide Residue Laboratories” on July 30 at the National Pesticide Analytical Laboratory in Quezon City.

In a short program, the Japan 2KR-assisted project entitled “Upgrading of Pesticide Residue Laboratories” that covers facilities in Quezon City and Davao was launched on July 30 at the National Pesticide Analytical Laboratory (NPAL) - Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in Diliman, Quezon City.

In her opening message, Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Regulation and BPI Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Director Paz Benavidez II shared the agency’s aim for NPAL and the Davao Pesticide Analytical Laboratory to be top-notch facilities for pesticide formulation and residue analysis.

“Now, we are better equipped to face new challenges such as implementing the Food Safety Act and meeting standards in screening agricultural commodities including Japan’s positive list system,” she added.

Meanwhile, BPI Plant Product Safety Services Division OIC Maria Lourdes de Mata presented the accomplishment of the project as of June 30, 2015. She shared that through the project, necessary equipment, such as Liquid Chromatograph and Gas Chromatograph both with tandem mass spectrometer and Gas Chromatograph with mass spectrometer, were installed in the two laboratories.

They also conducted trainings to familiarize the staff on the use, maintenance and troubleshooting of the said equipment.

On the other hand, Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) Executive Director Ariel Cayanan emphasized that the agency will continue to strengthen its participatory and collaborative mechanisms to achieve a globally competitive and sustainable agriculture sector.

“We do hope that these laboratory facilities will be able to create more opportunities to support more Filipinos in the years to come,” PCAF Exec. Dir. Cayanan stressed.

As mentioned by Japan First Secretary for Agriculture Kenji Terada, Japan is one of the biggest importers of Philippine agricultural produce, such as mango and okra. He also underscored the importance of producing safe food for everyone.

With the installation of upgraded equipment at the pesticide analytical laboratories in Quezon City and Davao, “we are assured that mango and okra that are exported to Japan have passed meticulous and stringent standard,” said First Secretary Terada.

He also hopes that through the upgraded laboratory facilities, the Philippines will be able to ensure its compliance to international food safety standards as it also exports its agricultural goods to other countries such as the ASEAN and US markets.

Representing BPI Assistant Director Dante Fidel, BPI Crop Pest Management Division OIC Wilma Cuaterno thanked the Japanese government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and PCAF for making the said project possible.

“The assistance you gave us will truly strengthen the foundation of our institutional mechanisms ensuring that the Philippines will be able to compete better in the context of globalization of agricultural trade,” she said.

She also challenged the BPI Plant Safety Services Division staff to do their best in protecting the interest of their stakeholders as she closed the program.

The ceremonial unveiling of the project marker and a tour on the laboratory facilities followed after the short opening program.