The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) successfully conducted the 6th Regular Meeting of the Oversight Committee of the DA Regulatory Clearinghouse System (RCS) held at the BPI Conference Room in Malate, Manila, on April 14, 2025.
The activity aims to provide valuable guidance and policy direction to the bureau’s regulatory divisions while also serving as a platform for evaluating and discussing important issues related to compliance with regulatory standards and day-to-day operations within the clearinghouse system.
Presided by DA-Assistant Secretary for Policy and Regulations and Vice Chair, RCS Oversight Committee, Atty. Paz J. Benavidez II, together with RCS Committee Division Chief of the Macro-Economic Policy Division, Ms. Tisha Pia Dela Rosa, Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Policy Division, Ms. Toni Marcel Rimando, and Mr. Charlie Palilio; Also present were representatives from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Ms. Giselle Melgor and Mr. Emil Dela Cruz. The ARTA reviews the information and insights generated by the DA-RCS to assess how effectively they address regulatory challenges and improve the overall ease of doing business.
ASec Paz emphasized the importance of making regulatory compliance easier for stakeholders by reviewing and possibly streamlining documentary requirements. She also noted that one of DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr’s agenda is to balance regulatory functions with developmental goals within the DA.
The Oversight Committee discussed the proposed amendments to the 12 BPI regulations, starting with the updated guidelines for the accreditation of various seed growers/producers (hybrid rice, Open-Pollinated Variety (OPV), corn, and inbred rice), NSQCS regulatory fees, compliance procedures for pesticide residue limits, streamlined importation requirements for plants and plant products, guidelines on the schedule of fees for the processing, risk assessment, and monitoring of genetically modified plant and plant products, amendment to Administrative Order No. 3 Series of 1994: Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992, and guidelines for updating the passport and characterization data of registered crop varieties with the NSIC.
BPI Officials attended the meeting including, BPI Assistant Director for Research, Development, and Production Support Services, Herminigilda A. Gabertan, Ph.D.; OIC – Assistant Director for Regulatory Services in Concurrent Capacity as Chief, National Seed Quality Control Services Division; Ruel C. Gesmundo; National Plant Quarantine Services Division (NPQSD) Chief, Ms. Joan Tolentino; Plant Product Safety Services Division (PPSSD), Chief, William Mugot; Biotechnology Office, Officer-in-charge and Chief Administrative Designate, Ms. Geronima Eusebio; National Seed Industry Council / Plant Variety Protection Office (NSIC / PVPO), OIC-Head Council Secretariat, Ryan Paul Alcantara. The meeting was also participated by representatives from DA RFO Region III, IV-A and IV-B.
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