Tantangan, South Cotabato - The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center XII (RTC XII) recently conducted a pivotal "Training of Trainers" program on Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) for Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) and Livestock Coordinators in Region XII and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The five-day event, held at the ALC Building, DA ATI-RTC XII, in San Felipe, Tantangan, South Cotabato, aimed to elevate the knowledge and skills of participants in GAHP, a set of recommended practices crucial for animal care, encompassing housing, feeding, management, and health.

Center Director Abdul I. Daya-an inaugurated the training, emphasizing the significance of GAHP in enhancing local livestock management practices and ensuring the quality and safety of animal products. Experts from the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Central Office and Regulatory Division Region 12 delivered insightful discussions on the Principles and concepts of GAHP, GAHP's importance in food safety, Philippine National Standards (PNS) related to Poultry and Livestock, and the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.

On the fourth day of the program, participants engaged in practical learning by conducting the GAHP certificate process and inspection at Feta Integrated Farm in Sepaka, Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat, with a particular focus on Poultry production.

This Training of Trainers on GAHP underscores ATI's commitment to empower AEWs and Livestock Coordinators in Region XII and BARMM with the tools to effectively impart GAHP knowledge to local livestock raisers. Such efforts are anticipated to make a significant contribution to the improvement of the livestock industry in the region, ensuring best practices in animal husbandry and food safety.