OROQUIETA CITY, MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL — In a strategic move to advance Oroquieta City’s vision of becoming the first smart city in Misamis Occidental, the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X) conducted the Digital Farmers Program (DFP) 103: Farm Learn on April 13 to 17, 2026, at the Habitacion Hotel and Restaurant.
The training was designed to empower local rice farmers by equipping them with Smart Agriculture Technologies (SATs), enabling data-driven decision-making in their daily farming operations.
The five-day program brought together 30 participants, comprising rice farmers from the LIBADATATAMA Irrigators Association and 15 youth participants. This youth-farmer partnership facilitated a mentor-mentee dynamic, with the younger generation providing technical support during hands-on activities and return demonstrations, which significantly enhanced the overall learning experience.
Participants received hands-on sessions in essential digital agricultural applications, including the Binhing Palay App, e-Damuhan, Rice Crop Manager Advisory Services, and SPIDTECH. These tools were facilitated by Agriculturist I Marylie Monteroyo-Suralalta, who utilized interactive return demonstrations to ensure mastery of the software.
A primary highlight of the event was the agri-drone demonstration and field servicing. Led by Mr. Marwin Animo of Grainsco Inc., the session covered the multi-faceted benefits of drone technology in modern farming, providing participants with the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in drone operation.
Recognizing that productivity must be paired with profitability, the program also emphasized market access. Mr. Dave Arabes, DFP Master Trainer and Agricultural Technician at the City Agriculture Office, instructed participants on basic social media marketing, e-commerce platforms, and online payment systems. Building upon these foundations, ATI Technical Support Staff Angelli Doña provided advanced insights into social media strategies to help farmers reach a broader consumer base.
The initiative was a collaborative effort with the Oroquieta City Agriculture Office, led by Dr. Maynard C. Bongcayao. Encouraging the participants to embrace innovation, Dr. Bongcayao stated that they should give their full attention to the training to avoid wasting the opportunity. He expressed his hope that they would grow through this experience, noting that they should not rely only on what they have now because technology is evolving. He added that there are many innovations available to help them achieve the Mayor's dream of restoring productivity in Oroquieta.
This digital transformation initiative aligns with the overarching development roadmap of Oroquieta City Mayor Lemuel Meyrick M. Acosta, whose administration is aggressively pursuing the goal of establishing Oroquieta as a premier smart city in Region 10.
Following the success of the first DFP 2026 batch, the ATI-RTC X is scheduled to conduct two additional DFP: Farm Learn sessions in Maramag, Bukidnon on May 11–15, 2026, and in Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte on July 20–24, 2026. ###
