The Senate in the Philippines has approved a bill recognizing Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS), amending the current legal framework for organic agriculture in the country. The lower house will also pass their version of the amendment and it will then be ready for signing by the President. After this, the Implementing Rules and Regulations will be developed.
Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) are locally focused quality assurance systems. They certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange.