"Make your 'puhunan,' your personal sacrifices your inspiration. There are so many opportunities that will come your way... as an effective community worker. You will have to continue to learn, to continue to be better each time."
In her Welcome Message, ATI Bicol Center Director Elsa A. Parot spotlighted the roles of the 26 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) who completed the Season-Long Training of Trainers (SL-TOT) on Vegetable Production Technology in building the capacity of their communities to produce healthy vegetables.
The Graduation Ceremony happened at the ATI Bicol Grounds in San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur on October 11, 2024, four months after it started on July 17, 2024. Of the 26 AEWs, nine are from Camarines Sur; four each from Albay, Masbate, and Sorsogon; three from Camarines Norte; and two from Catanduanes.
ATI Director Remelyn R. Recoter, in her Keynote Message read by Center Director Parot, warmly congratulated the graduates, noting that inevitably the participants made sacrifices in completing the training requirements. She said the sacrifices are appreciated, for these will redound to the benefit of their respective families and offices. She emphasized the ultimate goal of the training, which is to make vegetable farming more profitable and fruitful, literally and figuratively.
In behalf of Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO), the Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer (APCO) of Camarines Sur, Mr. Marcial T. Bustarga, gave his Inspirational Message to the graduates.
Conducted on July 17 to October 11, 2024 in Pili, Camarines Sur, the SL-TOT included practicum Farmer Field Schools (FFS) facilitated by the AEWs in five barangays in Pili, Bula, and Ocampo in Camarines Sur. Side-by-side with the TOT participants who served as FFS facilitators, the 146 farmers who attended the FFS came from the following barangays:
- Balaogan in Bula, Camarines Sur
- Cadlan and Caroyroyan in Pili, Camarines Sur
- Salvacion and San Francisco in Ocampo, Camarines Sur
Of the five FFS, one was conducted in partnership with the Philippine Army whose personnel who attended the training shall serve as community trainers. Another innovation was the conduct of Participatory Rural Appraisal and preparation of Barangay Development Plan.
The SL-TOT topics were tackled through lectures, small group discussions, focused group discussions, and hands-on in participatory technology demonstration areas (PTDA) in the TOT and five FFS sites.
Mr. John Kenneth M. Gelario, Agriculturist I, served as Project Officer of the training through funds provided by the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP). Five vegetable specialists served as Learning Facilitators that guided their assigned group throughout the training:
- Mr. Edgardo C. Nacario (Agriculturist II, ATI-Regional Training Center V)
- Mr. John Carlo C. Dasigan (Science Research Specialist I, DA-Regional Field Office V)
- Mr. Alvin N. Alvaro (Agricultural Technologist, Naga City Agriculture Office)
- Ms. Cita B. Flores (Former Prov'l HVCDP Coordinator, Masbate Prov'l Agriculture Office)
- Ms. Julie Ann Q. Lopez (Agriculturist II, Catanduanes Prov'l Agriculture Office)
Ms. Micah Joy L. Baloloy, AEW of Magallanes, Sorsogon, who bagged the class valedictorian award, expressed her appreciation to ATI for the SL-TOT on Vegetable Production which equipped her with the knowledge, skills and motivation to give her best.
The Graduation Ceremony, hosted by Mr. Roberto B. Santos, Jr. and Ms. Ma. Francia E. Bautista, was livestreamed via social media. It generated 3,781 during-live views and 7,505 minutes viewed.
The video can be watched at https://www.facebook.com/ATIRTCV/videos/2283521228670964
