The Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center 2 (ATI-RTC 02), in partnership with the Department of Regional Field Office 02 (DA-RFO 02), through the Organic Agriculture (OA) Program, conducted the Pre-Deployment Assessment and Memorandum of Agreement Signing on Youth Internship Program Organic Agriculture (Batch 3) at ATI-RTC 02, Malasin, San Mateo, Isabela, on April 15, 2025.

The event was attended by youth interns, Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSA) cooperators as farm partners, and municipal agriculturists from Cordon, Angadanan, Delfin Albano, Isabela, and Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. Furthermore, the event also marked the closing of the orientation and the beginning of the two-week deployment activity for YIPOA Batch 3, which officially started on March 24, 2025.

Thirteen new grantees, together with their parents and 7 farm partners from Lopez Integrated Farm School Inc., Mannychie’s Integrated Farm School Corporation, Arboleda’s Integrated Farm, Cariño Integrated Farm, ARVYK Eco-Farm, Valdez Integrated Farm and Training Center, Inc., and Basileia Integrated Farm gathered for this important milestone.

Dr. Claris M. Alaska, OIC-Center Director warmly welcomed the participants and emphasized the vital role of the youth as future leaders and key players in agriculture. Meanwhile, Mr. George A. Caday, Regional OA focal person from the DA-RFO 02, shared words of encouragement, and he is hoping for a successful partnership.

A key highlight of the event was the sharing of insights and experiences by the interns and farm partners during their two-week pre-deployment and the subsequent assessment. This sharing session culminated in the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

Moreover, Ms. Jennilyn V. Pablo, ATI-RTC 02 OA Program Focal Person, provided an overview of the program. She discussed the benefits, roles, and responsibilities of interns and farm partners, as well as the timeline of activities for the Youth Internship Program on Organic Agriculture (Batch 3). The activity ended with a hopeful and inspiring message of encouragement from Ms. Juliet W. Columbus, Municipal Agriculturist of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya.

~Ms. Jennilyn Franada V. Pablo