Patikul, Sulu – On August 9, 2023, a total of 500 coconut farmers from Sulu Province celebrated their successful completion of the School On-the-Air on Coconut Production: "Masaganang Coco-Buhayan Radyo Eskwela sa Pagniniyugan." The achievement was marked by a Mass Graduation Ceremony held at the Sulu Provincial Gymnasium, attended by the graduates and esteemed partner agencies.
The event commenced with acknowledgments from Ms. Nur-Aina Ingkagan, PCA Sulu and Tawi-Tawi Division Chief, recognizing the significance of the occasion. Brigadier General Taharudin P. Ampatuan, Assistant Commander of the 11th Infantry Division, delivered an inspiring message, highlighting the attained peace and the vital role of productivity in the agriculture and fishery sector for the progress of the Sulu Archipelago.
The National Director of the Agricultural Training Institute, Engr. Remelyn R. Recoter, MNSA, CESO III, graced the ceremony as the keynote speaker. She underscored the untapped potential of the coconut industry for the island province's development, emphasizing the need to move beyond copra products and explore value-added options like VCO, coco sugar, and non-food products such as coco coir and coco geonet.
Among the distinguished speakers, PCA BARMM Acting Regional Manager Datumanong Pendi, MAFAR Sulu Provincial Director Engr. Alfie Iribani (represented by a staff), and PhilMEch Science Research Specialist II Ms. Dywanie Cervantes also conveyed insightful messages.
The ceremony recognized outstanding SOA graduates, with the top five graduates from each municipality receiving awards. ATI-RTC XII also honored the efforts of SOA Municipal and Provincial Coordinators with medals and certificates of recognition.
The Mass Graduation Ceremony concluded with a raffle draw, where selected graduates received tools essential for their farming endeavors, including shovels, lagaraws, and rakes.
Throughout the Season-Long School On-the-Air on Coconut Production, the graduates delved into topics such as the Philippine Coconut Industry Situation and CFIDP, the complete value chain of coconuts, identification of common coconut pests and diseases, diverse farm diversification methods, and compliance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
Recognizing the practicality and accessibility of radio, the program aptly addressed the information and educational needs of rural farmers who often remain beyond the reach of traditional government capacity-building initiatives.
Each of the five hundred enrolled farmers from the Municipalities of Omar, Patikul, Indanan, Talipao, and Maimbung received radio and training kits, contributing to the success of the program.
The remarkable achievement of the Season-Long School On-the-Air was made possible through the collaborative efforts of several agencies, including PCA-BARMM, PCA-Sulu, MAFAR-Sulu, and the Provincial Government of Sulu.
