The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in MIMAROPA conducted the Training on Rice Crop Management Advisory Service (RCMAS) with Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Tool Batch II at Aloha House Inc., Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, on April 13-15, 2026.
The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) and farmer leaders to effectively use the web-based system for data collection, analysis, and evidence-based decision-making.
In his welcome message, Mr. Ferdinand J. Doblados, Agriculturist II/Provincial Rice Coordinator, emphasized the importance of strengthening data-driven agricultural interventions and highlighted the role of extension workers in ensuring accurate and reliable field data for better program implementation.
As a show of support, ATI-MIMAROPA Center Director Pat Andrew B. Barrientos delivered a message through a pre-recorded video. He emphasized the importance of training in advancing agricultural modernization and highlighted the critical role of AEWs and farmer leaders in promoting innovation and digital transformation in the agriculture sector.
The three-day training covered topics such as the 4D Farms MEL Tool overview, RCMAS user registration, sampling techniques, field deployment strategies, MEL questionnaire, and data management processes.
Aside from lectures, the participants were also engaged in a field deployment activity, in which they registered their own RCMAS accounts and interviewed 17 rice farmers from Brgy. Kamuning.
Mr. Erlan D. Pasana and Mr. Michael Daven T. Jugno, both Information Officer II from ATI-MIMAROPA, and Ms. Marilyn M. Sanchez, Senior Science Research Specialist, from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Research Division MIMAROPA, served as resource persons.
Ms. Raquelyn T. Maidan, Municipal Agricultural Technologist from Española, shared that as a new AEW in the Municipal Agriculture Office, the training provided her the opportunity to gain more knowledge in using the RCMAS MEL tool.
“Marami rin akong natutunan, lalo na sa tamang paggamit ng RCMAS MEL Tool, na tiyak na makakatulong sa aking trabaho. Lubos kong hinangaan ang ating mga resource speakers dahil mahusay nilang naibahagi ang kanilang kaalaman at karanasan. Isa rin itong malaking hamon para sa akin kung paano ko mabisang maipapasa o maibabahagi ang aking mga natutunan sa aming munisipyo upang mas marami pang makikinabang sa tool na ito,” she shared.
As part of their commitment, the DA-RFO MIMAROPA will tap the 30 training graduates to serve as interviewers during the rollout of MEL interviews in their respective municipalities.
