(Greeting to the Partners and Special Guests)
This occasion serves as a time for reflection, gratitude, and sharing of our accomplishments, challenges, and plans as we continue to pursue growth and deliver better services to our partners and communities in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
The DA-Agricultural Training Institute in Ilocos Region remains a steadfast partner of the pillars of extension, our farmers and fishers, local government units, NGAs and SUCs, and demonstrates that farming is a bankable enterprise and a stable opportunity for all.
The Center successfully completed programs in support to the DA’s Banner Programs in which we provided extension activities primarily aimed at increasing the level of agricultural production and intensifying the agro-entrepreneurial skills of our partners.
As the capacity builder of the DA, we in ATI focuses on strengthening the capacities and competitiveness of rural communities through extension and related activities aimed at improving rural livelihoods.
A total of 160 training and related activities were delivered, which benefited 2,298 farmers and 949 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs).
In terms of financial performance, alongside the achievement of our physical targets, we maintained the timely 100% obligation and disbursement of our funds. This performance contributed to the ATI network ranking 1st in obligation rate for 2025 among the DA’s regional field offices and bureaus.
As part of our commitment in the professionalization of the Agriculture and Fishery Sector, there were 36 CPD programs accredited by the PRC Board of Agriculture, Board of Veterinary Medicine, Board of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering.
Partners were given the opportunity to exchange ideas, explore innovative approaches, and strengthen partnerships to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.
The Training Center, recognizing that the true measure of a program's success lies in its outcome and long-term impact, established and executed a robust framework for post-training monitoring and evaluation. This multi-faceted approach showed a high adoption rate from the participants trained.
Overall, we achieved a 90.97% adoption rate across all the banner programs, a testament that the various training programs remain relevant and responsive to the needs of the AFE sector which served as a crucial feedback loop, allowing our Training Center to continuously refine its programs and ensure maximum relevance and impact for all future programs.
One of the many successful intermediate outcomes we achieved from our interventions is the Kapisanan ng mga Magsasaka ng Bogtong Silag (KAMBOS) from Mangatarem, Pangasinan, one of the groups successfully developed, and is now implementing their Farm Business Plan. This strategic approach proved highly successful, culminating in the group's ability to secure crucial financial capital from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). This achievement was directly facilitated by the comprehensive and robust business plan that was meticulously developed and refined throughout the duration of the specialized training program. They are considered among those effectively trained by the AEWs and LSA Farmer Cooperators who participated in the Training of Trainers.
As a result of the Training on Sustainable Soybean and Cassava Production under the Corn Banner Program, our team, in partnership with the local government of Batac City, successfully organized the CaSaBa farmers into a formally recognized association, which is now moving toward CSO accreditation. The group has since been officially endorsed to the City Local Government Unit (CLGU) of Batac City, Ilocos Norte.
Equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values gained from the training, the association achieved an estimated yield of 1.72 tons of soybean per hectare in the previous cropping season—exceeding the national average. These accomplishments were made possible through the adoption of appropriate technologies and the collective efforts of the pillars of extension.
In Ilocos Sur, the Federated Rural Improvement Clubs have strengthened their unity, leadership, and collaboration. These interventions enhanced their confidence and organizational capacity while fostering an entrepreneurial mindset that empowers them to pursue sustainable livelihoods and contribute to local economic growth.
As the knowledge bank of the DA, we strengthen the digitalization of agriculture through the Digital Farmers Program (DFP), being rolled-out at the regional level, primarily aims to enhance farmers’ capabilities through modern and digital farming practices, an effective approach to encourage the youth to engage in agriculture.
Fertilizer application via drone technology was demonstrated across a total of 79 hectares or rice farms of corporate farming sites, as facilitated by the DFP. This initiative was in collaboration with the farm clusters and the Provincial Government of Pangasinan and Ilocos Norte
As the catalyst of the Philippine Extension system, ATI operationalizes various local internship programs. This shows a substantial investment in human resources and the Center's steadfast dedication to advancing educational excellence for the AFE sector.
Thirty-three (33) degree scholarships in all were given out. Between 2024 and 2025, 100% among the scholar-takers passed their respective Licensure Examinations.
For the Youth Internship Program in Organic Agriculture Program (YIPOA), ten (10) interns individually received 150,000 as funding to their proposed agri-enterprise projects to practice Organic farming.
The Institute supports the youth through our International Youth Internship Program in Japan, Taiwan, and Israel, which is considered a significant initiative in developing the knowledge, skills, and global perspective of our youth.
Our center actively strengthens partnerships with 91 certified learning sites for agriculture and 9 accredited regional extension service providers to enhance extension service delivery and drive rural development.
Our strong partnership with the Municipality of Natividad, Pangasinan has positioned it among the active local government units supporting the expansion of the Swine Multiplier Technology Demonstration Project. This initiative aims to rehabilitate the local swine industry affected by African Swine Fever. To date, the municipality has produced 283 piglets and conducted ten dispersal activities, benefiting 110 individuals.
Partnerships with provincial government units were further strengthened through the PAFES initiatives, supporting their respective champion commodities such as mango, rice, corn, garlic, cattle, and swine. One of the highlights is the rice–fish farming production and entrepreneurship initiatives among farm clusters in the Province of La Union. Through the support of ATI, in partnership with the La Union Agriculture and Fishery Extension Center, our farmers were able to receive starter kits in the form of feeds and fingerlings.
Support was also extended to the various Department of Education schools through training and extension services to further enhance the implementation of the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program, and Urban Gardening.
As part of our continuing commitment to inclusive and responsive agricultural development, the Training Center, in partnership with DA–RFO I, extended targeted training services under the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program which brings development to its most meaningful way responding to real needs, reaches those who need it most, and translates learning into lasting impact on the ground.
As part of our improving enabling governance, the Training Center successfully maintained the ISO 9001:2015 after passing the surveillance audit, further strengthening the credibility of its Quality Management System. This serves as a testament to the institution’s effective implementation of standard procedures and processes set by the International Organization for Standardization.
Significantly, another milestone to our institution is the continuous partnership with the Mariano Marcos State University and DA-RFO 1 for the use of existing training facilities in the City of Batac, and even provided additional land area for the expansion of these facilities.
Through this, the extension delivery for 217,906 registered farmers and 407 AEWs from Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur is more accessible, ensuring that access to knowledge, technology, and support remains unhampered, inclusive, timely, and responsive to their needs.
We are deeply grateful to share that with all these initiatives, the DA-ATI–RTC 1 has been recognized as the 2025 TOP 3 Best Performing Regional Training Center nationwide, rising from the 5th place in 2024, marking another milestone for ATI Ilocos Region. This achievement is not ours alone, it is the result of the collective efforts, trust, and continued support of our agriculture and fishery stakeholders. We sincerely thank all our partners for walking with us in advancing capacity development and in serving our AEWs, farmers and fisherfolk. This recognition inspires us to remain committed, humble, and steadfast in our service to the sector.
As we celebrate the 39th foundation anniversary of the Institute, we reaffirm our commitment to continue strengthening partnerships, enhancing our training and extension programs, and supporting our stakeholders toward a more resilient and food-secure region. We commit to our mantra of remaining to Putting our partners at the Heart of ATI.
Thank you and together let’s enjoy the rest of the night.
