SAN JOSE, Province of Dinagat Islands – “The Provincial Agriculture Office of Dinagat Islands is hoping for a continuous development and capacitation of the stakeholders here in the province. With the appropriate and right training and together with our partner agencies and the support of our Local Government Units, we would be able to enhance our stakeholders’ skills and eventually lead in the advancement of the agriculture sector,” said Provincial Agriculturist Rico B. Galinato during the Provincial Consultation Workshop for FY 2026 Agriculture and Fishery Extension (AFE) Needs held on March 12, 2024.

The activity was conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII spearheaded by the Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Unit (PMEU) with Nena Lomuntad, Planning Officer, as the project officer.

It aims to harmonize AFE needs among extension service providers in preparation for the implementation of full devolution by Executive Order No. 28 series of 2008.

It was participated by representatives from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), Municipal Agriculture Offices, Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga Region through its Agricultural Program Coordinating Office (APCO), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) Cooperators, and farmers’ cooperatives and associations.

Paterno Silla Jr., Community Development Officer I of BFAR Caraga, expressed his appreciation of the said consultation where the AFE key players discussed issues for the provision of extension needs of the AEWs. “It is a good venue for a collaboration among national agencies to have a harmonized implementation of the programs and projects of the government,” he added.

During the workshop, each agency presented its top five priority training needs for 2026. Issues, concerns, and agreements were also discussed.

“We, at the provincial level, are hoping for a positive result in bringing up the priorities of each representative who attended this workshop.  We are looking forward to training and activities that would help uplift the life of the farmers and the fisherfolks here in PDI,” said Gilbert Anguay, OPAg Senior Aquaculturist.