Freddie Lozada, the project-in-charge, provided background on bee farming during the field visit to OA Technologies.
VICTORIAS CITY, Negros Occidental – “It was my pleasure to be part of this great learning and practicing experience, which gave me so much hope, courage, insights, and learnings. Through it, I found some of the great next steps of being a Municipal Organic Coordinator in my locality. I was amazed by the process of the farm visit, discussions, and workshop. It was an amazing journey, and I manifest to replicate these best practices in our municipality in the succeeding years,” expressed Aljim P. Salvan as excerpts of his impression during the Capability Building on Organic Agriculture for Agricultural Extension Workers in Western Visayas on July 29 to August 2, 2024, at The Victorias Hotel and Aquatic Center with 32 participants who are composed of Organic Agriculture Program Coordinators from Provincial, City, and Municipal Agriculture Offices as well as OA Staff from DA Region 6.
Present during the Opening Program are Dr. Joselito Diaz, representing City Mayor Hon. Javier Miguel L. Benitez, and Ricky Charito, representing the Chairman of the Agriculture Committee. Also present are Godynel C. Isedenia, Director of the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAP), Alexandria Suñga, and Anthony Diga from the same office. Moreover, Leni M. Lacuesta, OIC-City Agriculturist of Victorias, welcomed the guests and participants. She also supported the Organic Agriculture Program and the whole City government of Victorias.
The participants and the Resource Speaker has a healthy discussion during the presentation on the Government’s Role in Food Security and the Roles and Responsibilities of LGUs in the Implementation of the NOAP according to Republic Act No. 10068.
On the other hand, Dir. Isedenia presented the topics on the Government’s Role in Food Security and the Roles and Responsibilities of Local Government Units (LGUs) in implementing the NOAP under Republic Act No. 10068. At the same time, Ms. Suñga and Mr. Diga presented the Core Programs of the National Organic Agriculture Program and the Introduction to Enterprise/Business Plan.
The Organic Agriculture Program Coordinators and Implementers conduct field visits and gather important baseline information to develop enterprise plans.
One of the highlights of the training is the conduct of farm visits. Participants were grouped into four and assigned every technology for baseline information for crafting their enterprise/business plans. Some technologies they have visited were Gawahon Bee Sanctuary, Panhilason Organic Vegetable Farm, Peñalosa Integrated Farms, Inc., and the City Agriculture’s Demo Farm, wherein mukosako, vermicomposting facility, and other OA technologies exist.
NOAP staff as resource speakers provided technical expertise during the workshop on developing an enterprise/business plan.
They have produced enterprise/business plans at the end of the five-day training. After the workshop, they presented the outputs to the panelists, namely Ms. Suñga, Mr. Diga, and Andrew T. Palomar, OA Regional Focal Person from DA Region 6.
Generally, the training aims to capacitate and empower the Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs), especially the Organic Agriculture Program Coordinators, by further enhancing their knowledge and skills in implementing organic agriculture-related activities and developing enterprise/business plans.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited this course with ten credit units.
