Director's Node
Director's Node
Empowering one another: Learning exchange between ATI CALABARZON and ATI CAR
Learning exchanges within the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) network are crucial for strengthening and enhancing agri-fishery extension services.
By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing, the network ensures that best practices, innovative solutions, and effective strategies are disseminated across different agricultural communities in various regions. This exchange of insights and experiences helps bridge gaps by empowering the staff—down to extension workers and farmers or fisherfolks. In the long run, it contributes to increased agricultural productivity, sustainability, and community development, driving the overall growth of the agri-fishery sector.
The road to sustainability and rural development: ATI CALABARZON’s strengthened commitment to farm tourism
Farm tourism, or agritourism, supports the local economy by bringing additional revenue to rural areas, helping farmers diversify their income. Typically, farm tourism sites also showcase innovative agricultural technologies and practices that can be adopted by visitors. Thus, this form of tourism promotes sustainable farming practices as visitors gain awareness, insights, and methods, helping them appreciate and engage in agriculture even more.
Gearing Up for 2025: Reinforcing Strategies in Attaining Organizational Goals
Planning is an essential component to the success of any organization as it assures that the strategies are aligned in attaining the organization’s objectives. This process aids decision-making and encourages management to look into the future and make decisions based on several alternative plans of action.
Subsequently, operational planning is geared towards creating actionable steps to meet the goals in the strategic plan. Its benefits include helping leadership define responsibilities, daily tasks, and activities in detail.
Stronger together: Building connections through self-care and solidarity
Promoting solidarity and self-care among members fosters trust, camaraderie, collaboration, and mutual support which eventually lead to stronger connections. This shared commitment to well-being enhances morale and resilience, fast-tracking progress and achievements within the organization.
ATI CALABARZON’s first-ever Coconut Expo: Merging innovation and meaningful collaboration
In the agriculture and fisheries sector, innovation and forging meaningful collaborations with other institutions are equally essential for delivering excellent services.
Innovation ensures that the offerings stay ahead of the evolving needs and challenges in the sector. Meanwhile, by forging collaborations, resources, expertise, and networks can be leveraged to enhance the impact and reach of services and drive greater success and sustainability.
Responding to the training needs, reaching and empowering far-flung communities
Needs-based and client-specific interventions to service delivery are at the core of the DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) CALABARZON.
Through and under the visionary leadership of Center Director Dr. Rolando V. Maningas, the DA-ATI CALABARZON translates this mantra into action, responding to the training needs of its clientele and reaching even far-flung communities in the region.
Epitomizing this commitment, the recently concluded “Training on Coconut Farm Business School (FBS)” serves as a testament to how dedicated the Center is and the extra miles it takes to deliver quality and excellent service.
Climate Resilient Farmer’s Field School (CRFFS): Leveraging Adaptable Technologies in Corn Farming
Corn is a significant part of the Philippines' agricultural environment, providing a staple crop and a key source of income for millions of Filipino farm households. As the country's second most valuable commodity after rice, corn is grown in many places, supplying nourishment, livestock feed, and revenue to growth areas. Corn farming is prevalent throughout the country, especially in highland and rain-fed areas, demonstrating its importance in the agricultural economy and supporting the livelihoods of farmers who rely on it.
Exploring Potentials of Inland Tilapia Farming in CALABARZON
The CALABARZON region serves as one of the nation’s most progressive areas in the Philippines, distinguished by its rich agricultural environment. Regardless of being adjacent to Metro Manila, the region's isolated rural communities frequently experience difficulties in maintaining an adequate food supply. In these places, where accessibility to marketplaces and alimentary services is limited, pond-based tilapia farming gives a significant chance to improve the sustainability of community farming.\
Government Support Initiatives for El Nino-Affected Farmers and Fisherfolk
El Niño, typified by an unusual increase in sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, has a significant negative influence on the livelihoods of Filipino farmers and fishermen, causing prolonged periods of droughts and disruptions to aquatic ecosystems. It takes a diversified approach to overcome these difficulties. Financial aid, such as direct cash gifts and assistance, provides capital to support adaptive practices and immediate relief from the effects of the phenomenon.
Intensifying Meat Quality Management Capabilities in CALABARZON
The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) perform major functions in the Philippine agriculture sector. ATI aims to improve the capabilities and competence of farmers and other stakeholders by conducting training and extension. Additionally, NMIS rigorously inspects and regulates meat and meat-related products to ensure their safety and quality. The collaboration between these two governing bodies is vital to raising the general standards of agricultural enterprises and the meat industry in the country.
Learning Sites for Agriculture: Partners in Intensifying Immersion Programs
Several nations, including the Philippines, depend significantly on agriculture for social and economic progress. As the need for innovative agricultural techniques develops, educational institutions have to fill the gap between academic understanding and practical execution.
Known as the capacity builder, knowledge bank, and catalyst of the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries extension system, the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute CALABARZON (DA-ATI CALABARZON), under the direction of Training Center Superintendent II, Dr. Rolando V. Maningas, facilitated the immersion of Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) students in several established Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSA) in the region.
Synergy with LGUs: Enriching Solidarity in Agricultural Communities
Agriculture continues to be the fundamental foundation of many economies, especially in emerging nations. The relationship between Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) plays an essential role in promoting equitable growth and dealing with food security challenges.
NURTURING ALLIANCES: RELEVANCE IN SUSTAINING SUCCESS
Partnership and collaboration have become essential for success in many fields, including corporate affairs, education, studies, and advancement of communities in our modern world of global interdependence. These techniques comprise the gathering of people, organizations, or groups with similar preferences, resources, and desired outcomes. Partners can produce results that are greater than what they might achieve alone by merging their respective abilities and experiences.
WINNING FIELDS: RECOGNIZING CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIELD OF AGRI-FISHERY EXTENSION
One of the key drivers of the country's economy is the effectiveness of agricultural training facilities, which are essential for improving farmers' productivity, knowledge, and abilities, which in turn supports the expansion and sustainability of the agricultural sector. The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) is one of the government institutions that is essential in offering agricultural stakeholders around the nation pertinent and easily accessible training programs and opportunities as well
BEYOND BOUNDARIES: A JOURNEY THROUGH MILESTONES OF EXCELLENCE
The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) is a living example of tenacity, expansion, and a steadfast dedication to the agricultural industry as it triumphantly reached its 37th anniversary. Over the course of these remarkable years, the organization has transformed from its humble origins to a beacon of outstanding performance, achieving innovative milestones and having a tremendous impact on the farming sector.
DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES THROUGH OUTREACH INITIATIVES
A special chance to perform humanitarian deeds is always presented by Christmas, a time of joy and giving. During this joyous season, a great number of people demonstrate their generosity by contributing to a variety of worthy causes. The genuine spirit of Christmas is embodied when people band together to improve the lives of those in need, whether via charitable contributions, volunteer work, or planning neighborhood projects.
CFIDP: BOOSTING COCONUT PRODUCERS' COMPETITIVENESS
Aiming to improve the profitability and efficiency of the 2.5 million coconut farmers in the entire nation, the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) plans to modernize and revitalize the Philippine coconut industry while promoting equitable society, educational opportunities, and poverty reduction.
UTILIZING ICT'S SOCIETAL POWER TOWARDS MITIGATING DIGITAL GAP
Digital education has become a crucial component of the information society's advancement. This aspect affects every member of the teaching and learning community and raises serious difficulties, particularly with the ability to utilize the tools needed and understanding academic concepts.
CONVERGENCE OF OPPORTUNITY AND PREPAREDNESS ENSURE SUCCESS
Planning determines an output that is needed, whereas budgeting sets the inputs required in order to achieve that result. Thus, management employs the planning procedure to develop programs, set up basic policies, and establish objectives and priorities for the organization as a whole. Budgeting, on the other hand, aids in the formulation of the organization's operations, allowing to gain a better understanding of targets, identifying how resources can be distributed, and assessing which areas need to be revisited.
YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN BOOSTING ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN THE REGION
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Philippine population is expected to reach 142 million by 2045, in accordance with 2010 Census-based population projections. As the nation's population increases, so does the demand for food production, this is precisely why learning about agriculture is so significant. This allows future generations to have a thorough understanding of where the food they consume comes from, and a greater number of people might be motivated to work in the agricultural sector in order to meet the demands of a rising population.
YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE, ITS VITALITY AND PROSPECTIVES
In spite of the fact that the Philippines is primarily an agricultural country, fewer Filipinos are venturing into the sector. Though farming is the second-highest labour force in the nation, there is a steep fall in the number of people who have a desire in working in this industry, as seen by the average age of farmers, which is from 55 to 59 years old.
ENTHUSIASM NATURALLY LEADS TO INNOVATION
The positive transformation of agriculture and fishery into a strong sector is the Department of Agriculture's (DA) top priority considering the continuous opening and expansion of opportunities for our country's farmers and fishermen. The pandemic still poses uncertainty, but like any other battle, progress must be made.
Advancing Collectively Toward a Common Goal
In terms of wealth of resources, industrial and agricultural development, the Southern Tagalog Region exemplifies its potential for expansion and advancement. With a large number of researchers and technicians with expertise in the farming industry, environmental issues, and natural assets as well as various corporate and public institutions, including universities and state colleges and R&D agencies are also situated throughout the region.
SOLID ALLIANCE: STRATEGY FOR OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
African Swine Fever (ASF) is a transboundary, high-impact animal disease that continues to have a 36% negative impact on the Philippine swine industry (Department of Agriculture, 2021). As the Department of Agriculture (DA) first identified ASF cases in Luzon and Mindanao last 2019, there has not been a vaccine or treatment for the viral illness. Therefore, ASF has proven challenging to completely eradicate and has since had a detrimental effect on the swine industry and local livelihoods.
A Drive to Keep Winning
The most effective way to produce a good value of service at a balanced flow to accomplish a specific output rate is precisely defined in standard work. It divides the task into sections that are ordered, sequenced, and repeatedly followed. While productivity can be raised by process optimization, proficiency can be increased by implementing best practices as well as using efficient technologies...
Private Partners' Contributions to Agricultural Development
One of the most important components in boosting farm productivity in light of today's growing threat to food security is the private sector's participation in providing extension services.
Commitment: A Powerful Sign of Willpower, Resilience and Perseverance
The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) keeps betting on the opportunities and potential of ongoing technological breakthroughs. Having assumed complete leadership of DA-ATI CALABARZON, the Training Center Superintendent II/Center Director Dr. Rolando V. Maningas participated on the 36th anniversary of ATI which was commemorated last January 23–27, 2023 at the Central Office with the theme “ATI LEADS: Innovate, Transform, Empower—Embracing Extension Modernization for a Progressive and Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries”.
SANGUINE OF HOPE
Apart from the challenges in the agriculture sector such as the continuous fight against ASF, the devastation caused by typhoon Paeng, there was also a change in the leaders of our country, as well as in the DA-ATI directorate.
Techno-Gabay Program (TGP): Strengthening Partnership to Achieve Mutual Success
One of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development’s (PCARRD) flagship programs that aims to provide science-based information and technology services to end-users in the agriculture, forestry, and natural resources (AFNR) sectors thru TGP. Its overarching goal is to accelerate the modernization of agriculture and natural resource sectors by improving extension agents', farmers', and entrepreneurs' access to knowledge and technologies.
The Future of Agriculture Rests with The Next Generation
The Department of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), in collaboration with the Office of Senator Grace Poe (OSGP), expands its program for young farmers and fishers through the "Binhi ng Pag-asa Program (BPP)". The BPP aims to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and mindset they need to succeed as agricultural leaders and agripreneurs.
Last 2017, the BPP was implemented by the DA-ATI CALABARZON through 72 batches of trainings from April to November.
Attaining a Diverse and Dynamic System for Agricultural and Fisheries Extension
The agriculture and fishery sector has faced difficulties and situations that have affected its performance during the past few years. One of the challenges being encountered by the sector is the decentralization of provision of agricultural extension services.
To address this issue, the Department of Agriculture (DA) developed several programs, and one of those integrative and convergence strategies is the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System (PAFES).
Read more
Developing the Philippines' Coconut Industry: “A Promise Fulfilled to Coconut Farmers”
On June 24, 2022, the Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), officially launched the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) held at the Quezon Convention Hall, Lucena City, Quezon Province.
The proposal, which was approved and signed on June 2, 2022 by Executive Order 172, aims to increase the income and productivity of coconut farmers in the country by 2.5 million.
Turning Opportunities into Fuel in Chasing Dreams
All aspirations and dreams can truly be achieved simply through patience and perseverance in life. Indeed, nothing is impossible, as long as you believe in your own ability and you become a good influence on the people around you.
On May 16, 2022, Dr. Rolando V. Maningas was designated as the new Office-In-Charge (OIC), Center Director of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Region IV-A upon the appointment of the ATI Director, Ms. Rosana P. Mula under Special Order No. 83.