TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - The Philippine Federation of Pest Management Operators' Associations (PFPMOA), Inc. played its part as a private group in attempting to reduce the number of Covid-19 cases by performing disinfection, particularly in quarantine facilities during the assault of the epidemic.

Rufito C. Pagauitan, president of the PFPMOA, said during the 9th National Convention and 15th Anniversary Celebration in Davao City, their association, through the various local associations across the nation, had joined massive disinfection and clean-up drives in various parts of the country.

“The 9th National Convention and 15th Anniversary Celebration bring the latest cutting-edge research from across the globe. Learning lessons from the pandemic and building resilience for the next crisis, our industry now has the opportunity to turn the Covid-19 disruptions to our advantage,” he said.

He said the convention is part of the continuing education program of the organization for its members which aims to update their association's capabilities to handle disinfections and application of pesticides and other hazardous chemicals in their industry.

“We have invited experts in various fields to make us inform, providing us with the latest trends to enhance our knowledge and come up with compliant decisions that drive our operations  to move forward and enable us to be abreast of the complex challenges brought by this pandemic,” he said in his opening remarks.

The 9th convention with the theme: “Moving Forward to Face the Challenges of the New Normal” was participated by Mindanao Urban Pest Management Association, Inc. (MUPMA), North Central Luzon Pest Management Operators Association, Inc. (NCLPMOA), Philippine Association of Professional Fumigators (PAPFI), Philippine Association of Professional Pest Management Operators, Inc. (PAPPMO), Pest Control Association of the Visayas, Inc. (PCAV), South Luzon Pest Management Operators’ of the Philippines, Inc. (SLPMOAP).

Meanwhile,  Curtis Lazaraga, former chief, Health and Sanitation Division of Davao City, said the pest industry has been their partner since 1998 when they started as a requirement prior to the issuance of a sanitary permit. (OTB/ADS/PIA Region 2)