SOA participants, coordinators, heads of the implementing agencies, their representatives, and guests pose for a photo session right after the mass graduation ceremony.
ROXAS, Capiz – About 500 coconut farmers in Capiz graduated from the School-on-the-Air (SOA) in Coconut Production and Processing after four months of airing. Dubbed the Masaganang Coco-Buhayan: Radyo Eskwela sa Pagniniyugan, the SOA on coconut is aimed at driving the growth of the coconut industry by providing comprehensive and continuous education to smallholder coconut farmers and farm workers on the latest research-based and innovative technologies and approaches related to coconut production, processing, and farm business enterprise.
Likewise, this initiative empowers farmers with the necessary knowledge and skills to enhance their productivity, increase their profitability, and improve the overall quality of their coconut products.
ATI led the implementation of the SOA in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Region 6, PCA-Capiz, the Provincial Government of Capiz through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, and 97.7 FM Radyo Maragtas together with the local government units (LGUs) in the province such as Ivisan, Jamindan, Maayon, Panit-an, Pilar, Pontevedra, Pres. Roxas, Sapian, Sigma and Tapaz.
ATI Region 6's Center Director Mary Ann A. Ramos confirms the graduation of the SOA participants during the mass graduation ceremony.
A mass graduation ceremony was held at the Gerry Roxas Foundation Training and Convention Center in Roxas City on August 13, 2024, to recognize the efforts of the implementing agencies and farmer participants. The farmer graduates, SOA coordinators, heads of the implementing agencies and their representatives, and municipal agriculturists from the participating LGUs attended such an endeavor.
Mr. Jomer Marcelino, the SOA participant from Panit-an, Capiz, highlights the transformative power of agriculture through the conduct of the SOA during his testimony.
PCA VI Regional Manager III Neil J. Melencion graced the event and encouraged the coconut farmers to continue their efforts and hard work to attain productivity and sustainability in coconut farming.
Furthermore, ATI National Director Remelyn R. Recoter congratulated the participants through a video message. Meanwhile, ATI Region 6’s Center Director Mary Ann Ramos confirmed the graduation of the participants.
Through a testimony given by some selected SOA participants, coconut farmers expressed their appreciation and gratefulness for the implementation of the program.
Mr. Randy Barrieta, SOA Coordinator of Sapian, Capiz, receives his medal, certificate of recognition, and token in acknowledgment of his outstanding program implementation.
Jomer Marcelino, the SOA participant from Panit-an, remarked, “Through the SOA, we have seen the transformative power of agriculture in our lives. We have learned innovative techniques to select, grow, manage, and process products from coconuts. Also, I have learned about the various pests and diseases related to coconuts and how to manage them. Through the SOA episodes, I believe it could help us to improve our farming practices. We also had opportunities to visit other municipalities to see the good practices of other coconut farmers and the processing technologies in coconut. Thank you for the opportunities you have provided us to care for the “tree of life.”
The ceremony recognized outstanding SOA coordinators and participants for their noteworthy performance during program implementation.
Sixteen episodes aired via 97.7 FM Radyo Maragtas and were live-streamed on the ATI Western Visayas Facebook Page from March 22 to July 19, 2024.
Outstanding farmer participants were also recognized for their remarkable performance during the 4-month conduct of the SOA.
