Participatory Guarantee System
The Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) is the mechanism by which small farmers/fisherfolk, their farms/associations/cooperatives shall be certified as engaged in organic agriculture and producers of organic agriculture products. The participatory organic certification from a government agency or OCBs, organized in accordance with RA 10068, as amended, shall be promoted and accepted. The products certified through the PGS shall be traded only in the domestic market, unless covered by an international certification or a mutual recognition agreement. An association or group under the PGS shall adhere to the Philippine National Standards for Organic Agriculture.
The Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) certifies the small farmers/fisherfolks as PGS core groups and grants accreditation to these groups as organic certifying bodies (OCBs). The PGS is a locally focused quality assurance system. It intensifies OA certification for the integrity of the OA produce and encourages all PGS groups to form one federation of national organization and choose a representative to the NOAB who will espouse PGS concerns.