PALO, Leyte - The 5Ks program in Organic Agriculture is a framework designed by the Department of Agriculture (DA), which was implemented through the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), to promote holistic, sustainable development at the grassroots level.
In collaboration with the Local Government Units in the region, agricultural extension workers joined the training that aims to equip women and young individuals with essential knowledge and skills towards healthy, environment-friendly, and income-generating community initiatives.
Ms. Anafe Gildo, one of the participants, shares, “The training on OA Level Up: Kababaihan at Kabataan para sa Kalusugan, Kalikasan at Kabuhayan (5Ks) was very impressive, especially by how organic farming helps protect the environment without relying on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Learning about the different organic farming practices was very valuable and eye-opening. It helped increase my knowledge about organic agriculture and allowed me to connect with people who share the same interest in sustainable farming. Overall, the seminar left a very positive and lasting impression on me.
Ms. Loueza Mae Games, on her part, emphasized that the training was very informative and inspiring as she shares, “I truly appreciate how the resource persons enlightened and motivated us, helping us realize the importance of organic agriculture and its benefits for the environment and the community. Although the workshop on simple accounting was a bit challenging, we were still able to understand the concepts and complete the activity. Through this experience, I realized how important financial management is in making the 5K program sustainable and viable.”
They learned about the 5K program’s eligibility, requirements, mechanics of implementation, and roles of the stakeholders, and have agreed to organize 15 women/youth for the implementation of the 5K program.
The training course is a CPD-approved course, and participants who were also licensed agriculturists earned 6.5 points.
A total of 20 participants completed the OALevelUp: Capability Building for Local Government Units on Organic Agriculture (5Ks) on March 9-12, 2026, at 4H Hub, Palo, Leyte.
