The 1st Youth Internship Program on Organic Agriculture (YIPOA) Graduation Ceremony was held on December 17, 2024 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, Manila. This significant event celebrated the achievements of young organic agriculture interns and their contribution to advancing sustainable organic farming practices in the country.
The ceremony was attended by ATI Director Remelyn R. Recoter, Chairperson of the National Organic Agriculture Board Usec. Cheryll Marie Natividad-Caballero, and NOAP Director Bernadette San Juan, alongside 145 youth interns, 75 farm partners, and representatives from the Department of Agriculture nationwide.
Region 8 produced 14 outstanding graduates from YIPOA Batch 1, each implementing diverse organic agriculture enterprise projects:
- Ms. Vernaliza Padrigano - Heritage chicken production, vegetables, corn (Lawaan, Eastern Samar)
- Mr. Jose Quirante - Goat production, pineapple, banana (Guiuan, Eastern Samar)
- Mr. Jasper Somono - Goat production, pineapple, vegetable production (Gen. MacArthur, Eastern Samar)
- Ms. Glady Cabilic - Organic swine production with vegetable production (Palo, Leyte)
- Ms. Antonette Davocol - Organic vegetable production (Tunga, Leyte)
- Mr. Dino Mirafuentes - Integrated farm (native swine, vegetables, BSF) (Ormoc City, Leyte)
- Mr. Cris Claro Mirasol - Organic vegetable and root crops (Catubig, Northern Samar)
- Ms. Norlyn Porio - Organic vegetable production, vermicomposting (Allen, Northern Samar)
- Mr. Richard Espiña - Free-range chicken and vegetable farming (Catarman, Northern Samar)
- Ms. Mary Jean Pacampara - Organic vegetable production (Sta. Margarita, Samar)
- Ms. Michelle Maslay - Organic vegetable production (Sta. Margarita, Samar)
- Mr. Melvin Ruperio - Hog fattening (Marabut, Samar)
- Ms. Emmalyn Bungcaras - Organic vegetable production (San Juan, Southern Leyte)
- Mr. Roen Odon - Goat production (Bontoc, Southern Leyte)
These graduates are now equipped to lead in organic agriculture through innovative projects, contributing to the region's agricultural sustainability and food security.
The YIPOA, spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) and the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP), is a specialized initiative designed to inspire and empower youth to adopt organic farming as a sustainable livelihood.
This 21-month internship program includes nine months of classroom learning and farm training followed by a year of hands-on implementation of organic enterprise projects. It also provides start-up support and continuous mentoring to ensure the sustainability of the graduates’ enterprises.
With the success of its first batch, YIPOA is set to cultivate the next generation of organic agripreneurs, paving the way for a sustainable future in Philippine agriculture.
