The Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Institute 8 (ATI) continues to strengthen the coconut industry by bringing education through its School-on-the-Air program titled "Masaganang Coco-buhayan: Radyo Eskwela sa Pagniniyugan." Through this initiative, farmers in Southern Leyte gained vital knowledge on coconut production, processing, and enterprise development.
Anchored on Republic Act No. 11524, also known as the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF) Act, the program aims to uplift the lives of coconut farmers by enhancing their skills through distance learning. The School-on-the-Air (SOA) utilized radio as a platform to reach participants in rural areas, giving them access to modern practices in coconut farming from cultural management and intercropping technologies to farm animal integration and value-adding through food and non-food processing.
Among the top-performing graduates was Mr. Alfredo B. Dulojan, a farmer from Bontoc, who was recognized as the class valedictorian. He shared how the course helped him understand how to increase coconut productivity and add value through processing. He urged fellow graduates to adopt the technologies and share the knowledge within their communities. Ms. Isilita Fe G. Batas was recognized as salutatorian, while other achievers included Ms. Eliza E. Embay, Ms. Glaiza R. Ani, Mr. Harley Galano, Ms. Rosemarie P. Cetorre, Ms. Juana N. Dalangin, Mr. Jerick T. Sotto, and Ms. Rosa A. Balaba.
A total of 507 coconut farmers from Southern Leyte successfully completed the "Masaganang Coco-buhayan: Radyo Eskwela sa Pagniniyugan" program and were recognized during a graduation ceremony held on July 24, 2025, in Sogod, Southern Leyte.
