After a month of intensive learning, field exposure, and practical exercises, participants of the Expanded Basic Agricultural Extension Course (EBAEC) formally concluded their training through a Joint Graduation Ceremony held together with the Resource Person Development Course for Vegetable Specialists at Aliguas Hall, ATI-RTC I, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan. Conducted by the DA-Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center I (DA-ATI-RTC 1) from March 25 to April 23, 2026, the course was designed to strengthen the competencies of Department of Agriculture Contract of Service personnel who are expected to serve as frontliners in delivering responsive agricultural extension services in various communities.
Throughout the month-long course, participants were immersed in a learning process that went beyond lectures and technical discussions. They underwent sessions on self-awareness, agricultural extension principles, communication, community work, policy and planning foundations, stakeholder needs assessment, and data collection and management. More importantly, the training consistently emphasized that agricultural extension is not limited to transferring information or introducing technologies. It is a process that requires understanding people, listening carefully, and building trust with farmers and local stakeholders before interventions can truly become effective.
A major turning point in the training was the field practicum, where participants directly interacted with farmers through interviews, field observation, and community data gathering. For many, this became the most meaningful part of the course because it allowed them to personally witness the realities faced by farming communities. The field immersion also became the basis for their Area Specific Action Plan (ASAP) and capsule proposals, where each participant translated gathered field data into practical recommendations that addressed actual community needs. Selected proposals were later presented before regional and national officials for critique and refinement.
For many participants, the course created a deeper understanding of what agricultural extension really demands in actual field situations. Leah H. Habon of Anda, Pangasinan shared that the training greatly expanded her knowledge and skills, particularly in communicating with farmers and delivering technical information properly. She noted that beyond the lessons discussed, the activities helped her become more confident, open-minded, and prepared for different field situations. Meanwhile, Cherry Mae O. Occasion of Balaoan, La Union described the training as highly relevant and practical, saying that the combination of lectures, discussions, and activities made learning engaging and meaningful. She added that the training improved not only her technical knowledge but also her confidence, teamwork, and sense of responsibility as an extension worker. Jennifer B. Milo of Agoo, La Union reflected that one of her strongest realizations during the course was understanding perspective, recognizing that extension workers must remain open to different points of view in order to better understand communities and avoid quick judgments.
Assessment results also reflected the effectiveness of the training. All twenty-eight participants successfully passed the post-test evaluation, with several obtaining perfect scores and many showing substantial improvement from their pre-test performance. This demonstrated not only knowledge gained but also the participants’ active engagement in workshops, discussions, and practical activities throughout the course.
During the graduation ceremony, Engr. Remelyn R. Recoter, Director IV of ATI, reminded graduates that extension work must always remain anchored on listening and understanding the real needs of farmers. She emphasized that extension workers are not merely sources of information but catalysts of change whose mission is to help farmers become more productive, more resilient, and better supported amid the many challenges in agriculture. Drawing from the participants’ barangay immersion and stakeholder needs assessment activities, she pointed out that the field experience should help redefine their purpose as extension workers, particularly in understanding that meaningful intervention begins when one listens carefully to communities and translates gathered information into concrete support and action. She also highlighted that while knowledge and skills are important, the real challenge begins when these are applied in the field where extension workers are expected to complement local efforts and directly engage with farming households.
She further underscored the urgency of strengthening extension services, noting that the Department of Agriculture continues to prioritize field deployment as part of improving agricultural support systems nationwide. According to her message, the need for more responsive extension workers remains critical, especially in municipalities where one extension worker may still need to reach thousands of farmers. For the graduates, this served as a reminder that their training is directly connected to a larger national effort to improve agricultural service delivery and ensure that support reaches farming communities more effectively.
The Joint Graduation Ceremony therefore became more than a formal closing activity. It marked the transition of participants from trainees into professionals expected to apply farmer-centered approaches in actual assignments. Through certificate awarding and commitment signing, the graduates formally affirmed their readiness to carry forward the principles and lessons gained from the course. The ceremony also reflected ATI-RTC I’s continuing commitment to developing extension workers who are technically prepared, socially responsive, and grounded in actual field realities.
As the graduates return to their respective areas of assignment, the lessons learned from the EBAEC are expected to guide how they listen, engage, and respond to farming communities. More than technical competence, the course has strengthened an understanding that agricultural extension becomes meaningful when grounded in empathy, evidence, and genuine commitment to improving the lives of farmers and fisherfolk.
