Agriculture Secretary William Dar signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Sta. Catalina Mayor Edgar Rapanut and DA Region 1 Executive Director Nestor Domenden for the establishment of a Pesticide Residue Testing Facility in Sta. Catalina, Ilocos Sur on November 4, 2021.
The facility, valued at P6.7 million, aims to ensure that all agricultural produce to be sold in the public markets in Sta. Catalina and nearby municipalities and cities are safe from pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
This is in line with the food safety program of the government which seeks to provide consumers access to qualify, nutritious and safe food always.
The signing of the agreement was one of the key highlights during the distribution of the unconditional cash assistance to rice farmers of the first district of Ilocos Sur under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers’ Financial Assistance. (Photo by Adonis Buhayan, DA-AFID)
