Thirty Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) from various provinces in Region III successfully completed the Training of Trainers on the Digital Farmers Program for Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) staff, conducted by the Agriculture Training Institute–Central Luzon (ATI-CL) from June 1 to 5, 2026 at St. Isidore the “FARMer” Learning Center, Inc., Sta. Ana, Pampanga.
The five-day training aimed to strengthen the digital competencies of AEWs by equipping them with modern technological skills and tools that can support agricultural development and extension services in their respective localities.
During the training, Information Officer II John Patrick S. Gutierez of ATI-CL facilitated sessions on the effective use of smartphones, digital communication tools, and agricultural applications.
Participants also learned advanced social media marketing strategies and digital financial transactions, which are expected to help improve communication, promote agricultural programs and products, and enhance service delivery to farmers.
Meanwhile, Ray Jezrell P. Suarez, AEW and TGP Coordinator of Pulilan, Bulacan, discussed internet access and navigation, basic agricultural applications and helplines, and advanced digital agriculture tools. He also emphasized the importance of social media marketing in information dissemination, farmer engagement, and agricultural promotion.
Additional sessions were conducted by Meamette Y. Rosario, TSS IV, who introduced participants to advanced agricultural applications, including SPIDTECH and Binhing Palay, as well as e-commerce platforms that support agricultural marketing and digital trade.
The discussions provided participants with practical knowledge on integrating digital technologies into modern farming practices. As part of the program, participants took part in a learning journey to Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, for a benchmarking activity on digital agriculture technologies.
The group visited the Precision and Digital Agriculture Center (PreDICT), where they were introduced to data-driven and precision farming technologies. They also toured CLSU KAMALIG (Keeping a Modern Agricultural Landscape through Integrating CLSU-Generated Technologies), a facility that showcases university-developed innovations designed to support sustainable and modern agricultural practices.
During the closing program, Christian Salas, an AEW from Arayat, Pampanga, shared a poem reflecting on his learning experience and the potential benefits of the program for farmers. “Malaki ang maitutulong sa amin pati na rin sa mga farmers na gagamit nito dahil hindi sila mahihirapan sa documentation at sa sakahan nila,” Salas said.
Participants expressed appreciation for the comprehensive training and highlighted the relevance of digital tools and technologies in modern agricultural extension work.
ATI-CL said the activity is expected to further strengthen the capacity of AEWs to provide efficient, innovative, and technology-driven services to farmers across Central Luzon.
Written by: Lance Cedrick C. Guerrero
