JARO, Leyte - “It is said that we couldn’t give what we don’t have.” explains ATI-RTC 8 Assistant Center Director, Mr. Dalmacio Pajanustan, as he opened the 2-day staff development activity in Jaro. “In order for us to provide quality trainings, we ourselves must be the best, that is why we innovate.” According to him, sometimes, innovations don’t come out within the 4-walls of the office but by taking a step back and let it freely flow.
On January 19-20, 2023, ATI-RTC 8, spearheaded by its Learning and Development Committee, conducted a training on Innovation in Extension at the Villaconzoilo Farm Resort in Jaro, Leyte. Since its existence, ATI aims to provide quality extension services to its clients. While participants often come and go, it is within the center’s goals to bring something new to the programs and activities it conducts.
The 2-day activity aims that the center’s technical staff would come up with strategies that could improve and encourage participation of ATI-RTC 8 training participants in the conducted activities in the center. Effective training and innovative methodologies are given great focus as these take care of all the theories of learning to change the action, belief, and knowledge components especially to clients within the agriculture and fishery sector. The activity also aims to identify methodologies that would lessen the work loads of project officers. Training designs for upcoming trainings and other MOAs were developed during the activity’s workshop.
Present also during the activity were ATI-RTC 8 Center Director, Ms. Hazel Taganas . There, the management heard the suggestions and even the wishes of the center’s technical staff especially when it comes to the support they need in the conduct of their trainings and innovations be it in terms of manpower or equipment.
During the activity’s closing, Dir. Taganas responded to the wish list of the staff saying, “If you have suggestions, go directly to the management but don’t expect that it will be granted as there are other things to be considered.” She added that she will continue supporting activities that cater staff development and looks forward to the innovations that came up during the workshop.
Indeed, conducting trainings is not an easy job. From the preparations and even post-training activities, energies are being poured out by dedicated staff. But when tasks are done collectively with the right amount of support, ATI-RTC 8 trainings would definitely reach greater heights. Closing the activity, Dir. Taganas shared the antidotes to relieve anxiety or stress with the word CALM. First is to Count your blessings, Ask for help, Leave it to God, and to Meditate in the good things. She hopes that each staff could practice these reminders as they take on the challenges of the center’s activities for 2023.
