Quezon City, Manila || In a quest to advance the country’s forestry and agro-industrial sector, particularly the rubber industry, and aligning with global standards and address emerging regulatory challenges, the Philippine Rubber Research Institute (PRRI)headed by Executive Director Cheryl L. Eusala, together with Christopher Ubalde, Administrative Assistant II actively participated in the National Consultation on Philippine Forest Certification System: Assessing the Advantages Incentives, and Operational Integration for Forest-based Industries and Relevant Stakeholders on July 29, 2025.

Executive Director Cheryl Eusala served as the panelist for one of the key sessions. This forum aims to address the current gaps in preparedness and allows stakeholders to collaborate in identifying ways forward or the Philippine Forest Certification Systems (PFCS).

PRRI underscored that collaboration and convergence among agencies, particularly DENR, DTI, DA, and relevant industry bodies, are essential to crafting a unified national response to the EUDR and similar global benchmarks. As international markets tighten compliance requirements, the Philippines must proactively position itself to ensure that its commodities, like rubber, remain competitive and environmentally responsible.

The discussions acknowledged that while local forest certification systems exist, they often fall short of meeting international market access criteria. The consultation also highlighted the need for capacity building, policy reform, and coordinated governance to support stakeholders—especially smallholders and indigenous communities—toward full certification readiness.

The consultation also tackled current challenges in policy implementation, governance limitations of localized certification systems, and gaps in stakeholder preparedness. It provided a platform for collective commitment to enhancing inter-agency coordination, increasing capacity-building efforts, and promoting responsive policies that support both environmental sustainability and industry development.

PRRI’s involvement reaffirms its dedication to sustainable development goals and reinforces its mission to achieve GOMAgaang Buhay by elevating the rubber industry through science-based policies, institutional partnerships, and responsible land use practices.

#DAPRRI#GOMAgaangBuhay#MasaganangAgrikultura#MaunaladNaEkonomiya#ParaSaMasaganangBagongPilipinas#BagongPilipinas

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