The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in MIMAROPA in partnership with TESDA-Occidental Mindoro along with the Local Government Units (LGU) of Calintaan, Rizal, San Jose, and Magsaysay conducted School-on-the-Air on Organic Agriculture (SOA-OA) Mass Graduation on October 10, 2022, at Covered Court Rizal, Brgy. Sto. Niño, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro.
Through a pre-recorded message Engr. Remelyn R. Recoter, OIC-Director IV of the ATI expressed her greetings to the graduates of the SOA program. She shared, “Kayo ang magiging katuwang ni ATI sa pagpapalaganap ng kaalaman at teknolohiya sa pagsasaka para maisakatuparan natin ang ating layunin na magkaroon ng sapat na pagkain sa ating bansa.”
Present at the event were TESDA-Occidental Mindoro Provincial Director Rosalina P. Reyes, Provincial Agriculture Office-Occidental Mindoro Senior Agriculturist Luzviminda A. Yadao, Rizal Municipal Agriculturist Jehu Michael Q. Barrientos at ATI-MIMAROPA OIC-Assistant Center Director Norberto C. Maur.
“Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa ATI dahil naging partner namin kayo sa programang ito. Ang TESDA ay handang tumulong sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng kaalaman at teknolohiya sa organikong pagsasaka. Bilang outstanding students, kayo ang magiging priority namin para sa libreng NC II assessment on Organic Agriculture Production, Ms. Reyes said.
The culmination activity was participated by the Top 10 Outstanding Students and Avid Texters of the said LGUs. During the graduation ceremony, they were recognized and awarded with farm tools such as shovels, rakes, sprinklers, seedling trays, molasses, and vegetable seeds.
Also, part of the program was the expository tour for the SOA-OA graduates. The Top 5 Outstanding Students from the involved municipalities visited the successful Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) Organic Farm in Oriental Mindoro, namely Gabutero Organic Farm (GOF) owned by Mr. Nelson Gabutero, and DJMV Farm managed by LSA cooperator Mr. Marvien Albufera.
The 20 participants were welcomed and briefed by the LSA cooperators and owners of the said farms. During the briefing, Mr. Gabutero shared how GOF started. Likewise, Mr. Albufera explained the organic products that they could avail of at the DJMV Farm such as black rice, red rice, and lettuce, among others. Then, they toured the participants explaining the organic technologies on the farm.
After visiting GOF and DJMV farms, OIC-Assistant Center Director Norberto C. Maur warmly welcomed them at the Center. To know more about ATI, Information Officer II Erlan D. Pasana briefed them on its mandates, organizational structure, and banner programs.
Moreover, they had a quick tour of the office and learned about the technology being showcased in the Center's Techno Demo Farm.
A total of 520 students graduated from the SOA-OA and were given a Certificate of Recognition.
