Allow me to greet Ms. Rizalina T. Quiros, LeMMCAP, National President; Hon. Noel Anthony M. Geslani-Mayor Of Malasiqui, Pangasinan; Hon. Ramil P. Ventenilla -Mayor Mangatarem, Pangasinan; Hon. Jan Marionne Ramirez Fontelera - Vice Mayor, Alaminos Pangasinan;Ms. Erlinda Baltazar, Provincial Agriculturist of Ilocos Sur; Dr. Domingo Calub- Provincial Veterinarian of La Union; Mr. Mark Roy Q. Macanlalay, PCA, Regional Manager III; Dir. Rosario Segundina P. Gaerlan , BFAR, Regional Director; Dr. John B. Pascual, DA-RFO 1- Reg. Executive Director. To our keynote speaker for tonight, honorable Governor Ramon “ Mon-Mon” V. Guico, III, ably represented by Hon. Board Member Atty. Angel Baniqued, Jr.; Our LSA and ESP partners present tonight Youth and other rural-based organizations; Officials and Representatives from various State University and Colleges Officials; Our farmers and fishers; Partners from different Local Government Units; My fellow lingkod bayan from the Agricultural Training Institute A pleasant evening to all.
It is my distinct honor to deliver this year’s State of the Regional Training Center Address.
Today, we gather to reflect on our collective milestones towards achieving targets and accomplishing beyond what is expected from the Agricultural Training Institute. This is a moment to celebrate the resilience, innovation, and dedication that have defined us in the past year, and to recommit to our shared vision in providing excellent extension services to contribute in the transformation of the food system in the Region and the country as a whole.
As the capacity builder of the Philippine AF Extension, the Center opened opportunities for our stakeholders through our specialized course offerings on various commodity-based innovative technologies.
In line with our mission to empower our clients by strengthening their competitiveness and building their capacities, we have accomplished 100% of 188 training programs with a total of 4,336 partners benefited, consisting of Agricultural Extension Workers and farmer-leaders across the Ilocos Region.
As one Institution, we believe that by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and providing access to advanced tools and expertise, we enable our clients to achieve sustainable growth and long-term success.
As part of the Institute’s initiative to empower our partners, we were able to allocate funds from our savings for the additional 15 batches of Farm Business School for Farmer Clusters, an outright implementation of our trained beneficiary's re-entry plans.
With this, a total of 232 members from 16 Farmer Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) were trained, equipping them with knowledge and skills on farming as a business concept.
As a result, the 20-day comprehensive sessions of the training program yielded farm business plans of the FCAs, where two (2) were already approved for funding by a local financing institution.
and these are the
● “Caturay Sur Mangatarem Farmers Association Inc.” and the
● “Kapisanan ng mga Magsasaka ng Bogtong Silag (KAMBOS)”
The corresponding LGUs, and with our partnership with DA-RFO 1 selects the two FCAs to participate in the Farmer Cluster FBS Training. Both FCAs were able to connect with the producer's bank for funding of their projects.
This shows a strong relationship how multilevel governance can advance the achievement of positive outcomes in the extension delivery.
With the demand and marketability of briquettes in the region, the Institute has accomplished several batches of training on coconut charcoal briquetting for coconut farmer organizations (CFOs) in areas identified in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).
Among the CFOs, Santiago Island Hog Raising Association (SIHRA) of Bolinao has started its coconut charcoal briquetting business enterprise. Its members are now generating 50kg of charcoal briquettes each day and have established themselves as a provider of charcoal briquettes in Bolinao and surrounding municipalities. Furthermore, the cooperative has set its sights on partnering with WalterMart in which ATI and other partners commits to continually provide support
By diversifying its marketing channels and establishing a strong presence in local markets, the SIHRA Cooperative is well-positioned to promote its product effectively, reach new customers, and achieve its business objectives.
Maraming salamat po ating partners from PCA for this milestone.
The Province-Led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems (or PAFES) had significant advancements and changes in Fiscal Year 2024.
In the Province of La Union, the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian and the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University braves an activity in which farmers from San Fernando City Hog Raisers Farmer Cooperative receive a pelletizer machine and piglets for their enterprise project.
For the Province of Ilocos Sur, a training on rice by-products in swine production and integrated pest management was accomplished, with a 100% success rate.
The Provincial Agriculturist implemented as well two training batches in Ilocos Norte, resulting in a 104% success rate and 100% for physical accomplishment.
While in the province of Pangasinan, we have supported the "Corporate Farming Program" of the provincial government, for which the program had a 100% success rate with 300 farmers as our beneficiaries.
As the knowledge bank of the DA, we pursued the delivery of advanced farming technologies in improving productivity of farmers. The Institute is still at the forefront of improving Philippine agriculture with our creative Digital Farmers Program (DFP).
The Institute has concluded the Digital Farmers Program (DFP) Farm Connect. The activities were carried out in various Corporate Farming Sites in the province of Pangasinan, and expanded to the Province of La Union, assisting 100 rice farmers, and covering a total of 100 hectares of fertilized rice fields using drone technology.
We continuously build initiatives to enhance the delivery of agricultural and fishery information and technologies through the Techno Gabay Program.
This year, five FITS Centers were enhanced, and one FITS Kiosk was established, with ICT equipment and IEC materials provided to improve their capacity to disseminate information and technology.
In addition to information services, there were 200 enrollees who graduated in the E-Learning Courses. 36,940 knowledge products reproduced, and 12,481 disseminated.
As a catalyst of extension, we aim to foster a new generation of agricultural leaders through our degree and non-degree scholarship programs.
Our scholars' dedication and hard work have been rewarded with the successful completion of their courses for the first batch of easy agri scholarship program. Notably, 100% of our scholars who took the exam passed the 2024 Licensure Examination for Agriculture (LEA). This includes Mr. Marc Aaron P. Monte who began working at ATI-RTC 1 earlier this year.
Also, all three (3) of our BS-ABE scholars who took the 2024 ABE licensure exam are now full fledged Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers.
They are our pride.
With the implementation of the Youth Internship Program on Organic Agriculture (YIPOA), the Institute has produced interns who now become organic agriculture advocates. Among them is Mr. Marlon Galano from the City of Batac, Ilocos Norte.
Inspired by the lessons and skills acquired, he has established his own project called “Tender Loving Cultivation (TLC) Solutions”, an organic agriculture enterprise focused on producing and supplying high-quality soil amendments to farmers and organic enthusiasts.
Currently, Mr. Galano generates 18 bags of vermicast every two months, where he sells P500.00 for every sack, allowing him to earn P9,000.00 every two months. His Carbonized Rice Hull production yields 20 sacks every month, earning him 5,400.00 every harvest.
Truly, he demonstrates that youth can model farming as a viable enterprise.
We have made significant strides in the region by certifying Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSAs) and accrediting Extension Service Providers (ESPs).
To date, a total of 112 LSAs and 10 ESPs support the Institute in the effective delivery of agricultural training and extension services to benefit farmers and communities.
Seven (7) newly certified LSAs received financial assistance to enhance their farms, while one (1) LSA was awarded calamity assistance, reflecting our dedication to resilience and growth within the agricultural community.
On the spotlight, Ms. Veberly Jubilo-Uyaan, owner of Vel-Seirra Integrated Farm a Certified LSA of ATI in Tallipugo, Balaoan, La Union, a certified Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA), received the prestigious 2024 Injap Sia Outstanding Young Entrepreneur Awards (ISOYEA) for Agriculture Category from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
True to her vision, the farm has received numerous awards, including recent recognition for its "Climate-Resilient Technology for Oyster Mushroom Production Using Humidifier, Misting System, and Grow Light Technology." This innovation has enabled year-round, climate-adaptive mushroom yields, including Earwood "Tengang Daga" and Volvariella mushrooms.
We admire her in serving the true purpose of being an LSA.
The Institute is committed to its mission of empowering and enhancing the capacity of agriculture and fisheries stakeholders.
This undertaking has significantly improved the functionality of the facilities, ensuring the delivery of high-quality and state-of-the-art amenities to meet the needs and expectations of our partners.
Certainly, we are committed to give the best client learning experience for our partners towards improving enabling governance.
As the forefront agency in delivering extension services, we commemorate our FY 2024 milestone by publishing our annual report entitled SAGUT- Sustainable Agriculture, Growth, Unity, and Transformation. It entails the timely and relevant extension interventions rendered by the Center to contribute and support in achieving the sectoral goal of the Department.
Daytoy nga obra maestra ket maisagot kadakayo amin
As our Secretary's directives, Sec. Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, to have no more excuses, aim higher for 2025, exceed expectations, and let 2025 be the year of tangible results, we express our 100% commitment.
We will continue to invest in extension and innovation, strengthen our partnerships, and empower our stakeholders to build a more resilient and sustainable agri fishery sector.
After years of dedicated service and perseverance, our beloved ATI-RTC 1 is slowly being recognized. We are thrilled to share with you, a significant milestone, that among the 16 regional and international training of DA-ATI across the Philippines, we, ATI RTC 1 have been awarded as the top 5 best performing training center. This prestigious honor is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our team, who have tirelessly strived to provide exceptional service to our dear clients.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to ATI-RTC 1, our partners, stakeholders, and everyone who has contributed to the success of our Institution. Everyone’s dedication and hard work are the very heartbeats, heart and soul of this Institution. And as we take another step toward a better future for our farmers and fishers, let us continue this journey together, charting a roadmap for the agri-fishery sector.
With our fruitful partnership, we can work and complement towards cradling our dream of advancing rural development, and demonstrate that agriculture is Bankable and Profitable.
This piece of recognition and our ways forward today and beyond is wholeheartedly dedicated to all our farmers and fishers, AEWs and partners.
Muli, agyaman kami apo. Sama-sama nating ipagpatuloy ang ating adhikain para sa “Masaganang Agrikultura, at Maunlad na Ekonomiya”
