A total of 659 graduates completed the School-on-the-Air on Organic Agriculture Production (SOA-OAP) and receive their certificates during the graduation held in Cagayan State University – Carig Campus, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan on November 28, 2022.
The SOA on OA Production was spearheaded by Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 02 in partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority providing its promulgated Training regulations on Organic Agriculture Production NC II and Department of Agriculture - Regional Field Office No. 2.
The graduation was graced by Director Roger Rumpon, the Director of Administration and Finance of Cagayan State University – Carig Campus, Dr. Rose Mary G. Aquino the RTD for Research and Regulatory of DA-RFO 02, Ms. Annete B. Acorda of TESDA Cagayan, and Mr. Sergio Galamgam the Assistant Provincial Agriculturist.
The SOA graduation was one of the highlights of the Culminating activity of the National Rice Awareness Month & National Organic Agriculture Month Celebration.
In her message, Director Imelda M. Guillermo thanked the participants for appreciating the SOA as an extension modality. She challenged them to practice all their learnings in support of the government’s campaign for a safe and sufficient food for every Filipino family.
The School-on-the-Air (SOA) is one of the distance learning technology packages on agriculture and fisheries implemented through Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in collaboration with other agencies under the Department of Agriculture (DA) and other institutions.
The SOA on OA Production aims to create awareness of farmers on producing safe food for home consumption and other consumers.
There were 395 graduates from the municipality of Amulung, Iguig, Piat, Peñablanca, Sto. Niño and Solana, Cagayan and there were 264 graduates from Gamu, Mallig, San Isidro, and San Manuel Isabela, including Santiago City and Cauayan City. On the other hand, out of the 659 graduates, there were 123 AEWs who participated in the SOA.
According to Mercy Biala, a graduate from San Manuel, Isabela, “The SOA on OA is one of the great opportunities for us to improve our knowledge in organic farming and learning from the comfort of our farm. Natututo kami kahit nasa bahay o farm lang habang nakikinig sa radyo. Naging posible po ang pag-aaral para sa katulad kong uhaw sa organikong pagsasaka that can help us to attain food security.”
The SOA graduates acquired learnings from the 10 modules on organic farming discussed by an expert from ATI and DA-RFO 02. They were also tasked to answer quizzes, exams, and evaluation forms for their assessment. Aside from listening, the participants attended a one-day hands-on on National Farming Inputs and Natural Feed Mix preparation.
The SOA on OA Production was aired from August to November, consisting of 16 episodes aired in different radio stations like DWPE Radyo Pilipinas, DWSI Sonshine Radio, and DZDA Radyo Pangkaunlaran. Also, it is posted on the ATI Region 2 FB page.
