“I sincerely thank the Agricultural Training Institute and the Department of Agriculture for without their technical and financial support, the development of agriculture and fishery production in our municipality would have not been that successful and this award would have not been possible, either.”, Mayor Bryan Dexter Tadena of Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur said as he received their award as the Top 1 Best Performing Local Government Unit in the agriculture and fisheries extension services in region 1.
The said award is one among the recognitions presented during the Sambayanang Itinataguyod Kaalamang Agrikultura at Pangisdaan (SIKAP) Awards held as part of the local celebration of the ATI 36th Anniversary on January 27, 2023 at ATI-RTC 1, Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.
The SIKAP Awards was conceptualized by ATI-Regional Training Center 1 in 2016 to recognize the contribution of each pillar of the agriculture and fisheries extension system in region 1.
In 2022, the Center called nominations for the said award under the following categories:
- Local Government Unit (LGU);
- City/Municipal Agriculturist;
- Agricultural Extension Worker (AEW); and
- Rural-based Organization (RBO).
The SIKAP Awardees were present during the anniversary celebration to receive their plaque of recognition and prize, to cite:
LGU Category
Top 1- LGU-Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur
Top 2- LGU-Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Top 3- LGU-San Fernando City, La Union
City/Municipal Agriculturist Category
Top 1- Mr. Jose Randy T. Reburon (LGU-Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur)
Top 2- Engr. Shiela Marie N. Opelac (LGU-Laoag City, Ilocos Norte)
Top 3- Dr. Mary Jane B. Alcedo (LGU-San Fernando City, La Union)
Agricultural Extension Worker Category
Top 1- Mr. Christopher L. Capricho (LGU-Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur)
Rural-based Organization Category
Top 1- Cabaroan Rural Improvement Club, San Fernando City, La Union
“Maraming salamat sa ATI-RTC 1 dahil sa pagkilala sa aming nasa sector ng agrikultura at pangisdaan. Malaking bagay sa amin na sa kabila ng mga hamon na kinakaharap sa frontline service ay nabigyan kami ng ganitong pagkilala na nakakasaya at nakapagpapalakas sa amin para ibigay ang aming buong makakaya”, Engr. Shiela Marie N. Opelac, City Agriculturist of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, also expressed as she received her recognition as the Top 2 Best Performing City Agriculturist.
Meanwhile, the Center recognized also its different partner institutions and these are the following:
- Pangasinan State University- for the support in the conduct of the study entitled, “Analysis of the Philippine Agriculture and Fishery Extension System Landscape in the Ilocos Region".
- Mariano Marcos State University- for the support in the revitalization of the Techno Gabay Program in the region.
- Bureau of Plant and Industry-National Seed Quality Control Services; and
- Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Regional Field Office 1- for serving as active members of the Extension Service Provider Council.
- Samahang Itinataguyod Kaunlarang Agri-Turismo sa Rehiyon Uno (1 SIKAT);
- San Carlos City 4-H Clubs Inc.; and
- Calasiao Federated 4H Club- for serving as active private pillars of ATI-RTC 1.
- Philippine Information Agency;
- DZRD Sodnshine Raio Dagupan; and
- GMA Regional TV-Dagupan for serving as local media partners.
- LeMMCAP Region 1 as a private professional organization.
- Villar SIPAG Foundation Inc. for the continuous support to the agriculture and fisheries sector.
- Our Farm Republic;
- Rocapor’s Farm Learning Site School for Practical Agriculture;
- Abundance Agri-Tourism and Training Center, Inc.;
- Pangasinan Schools of Arts and Trades; and
- Greentop Organix Farm for the commendable support and contribution in the implementation of various extension programs and services under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.
