LOS ANGELES, Butuan City- The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) 13 successfully conducted the four months School-on-the-Air (SOA) Program on Smart Rice Agriculture (SRA) which runs from May-October, 2022. This is in coordination with the Provincial Agriculture Offices of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte.

The said SOA program was participated by the farmers, students, Agricultural Extension Workers and other stakeholders from the four (4) provinces of Region 13. A total of 2,215 enrollees completed the SOA SRA program which received their Certificates of Completion during SOA Mass Graduation ceremony in their respective province.

Within the four months duration, the SOA students learned lots of knowledge on smart rice agriculture particularly on rice production which focuses on the Palaycheck System.

 Composed of 16 episodes which aired once a week every morning at 5:00AM-6:00 AM with varied days per province via several radio stations. In Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur the program was aired at Hope Radio Station in Butuan City every Friday 5-6AM. This was hosted by Mr. Benjie Villaruben as Farmcaster and Provincial SOA Coordinator in the said province.  In Surigao del Sur, the program was aired via Radio Bandera station based in Tandag City every Wednesday at 5-6 AM. Hosted by Fritzieh Trujillo who also used to be the Provincial SOA Coordinator in Surigao del Sur. Provincial SOA Coordinator Angel Fazon hosted the SOA SRA radio program in Surigao del Norte via RMN DXKE radio station.

In Agusan del Norte, there were more than 600 graduates who were confirmed during the Mass Graduation Ceremony held in Cabadbaran City on November 14, 2022.  In Agusan del Sur, more than 800 SOA SRA graduates were confirmed by OIC Center Director Fil Victor A. Babanto on November 18, 2022. On the other hand, more than 300 graduates were confirmed in Surigao del Norte both in the mainland and island on November 16 and 21, 2022, respectively.

 In Surigao del Sur, there were more than 500 graduates of School on the Air Program on Smart Rice Agriculture which were confirmed during the mass graduation ceremony held in Tandag City on November 15, 2022.  

The SOA-SRA in the region started airing classes in June to October, 2022 with various resource speakers from PhilRice-Agusan and from the respective Provincial, Municipal and City Agriculture Offices.

Said program is in collaboration with the Provinces of Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte, and the Department of Agriculture Caraga, PhilRice Agusan and Agricultural Training Institute, Regional Training Center Region 13.