ATI-RTC-CAR called for a meeting with its mother agency and LGU partners in the region to harmonize and align its programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) relative to the implementation of various Education Support and Extension Services (ESETS) activities in the region for FY 2025-2026. The two-day activity was held last December 5-6, 2024 at the Aspulan Hall, ATI-RTC-CAR, BSU Compd., La Trinidad, Benguet.
In his opening message, ATI-RTC-CAR Director Charlie Sagudan, said that, “We need to do this because our operations are interlinked since we have the same client-based stakeholders. It is good that many of you have attended this harmonization. We have one goal in this harmonization; it is for us to get along with our targets in 2025 and 2026 so that we will not compete in our clients, venues, and target regions. This is a perfect avenue for us to have a smooth implementation in the field. As I have said, they are monitoring our performance into four indicators: physical, financial, governance, and customer satisfaction. So, let’s check this because they will institute this already in 2025. This afternoon and tomorrow we will have bilateral communication between ATI-RTC-CAR and your counterpart from the DA-RFO-CAR and the LGUs.”
Possible areas of collaboration and other support services were identified and aligned to define the direction of each commodity program in CAR for FY 2025 and FY 2026. Agreements along various programs were made during the activity.
For the PAFES, the PLGUs are to submit their updated CPAFEP. As support to PAFES, each province will be allotted ₱350,000 from the Rice Cluster Development Fund, for one rice-cluster-related training with 25 participants from Rice Cluster Development Fund. However, PLGUs may request additional batches if there are additional clusters to be trained. The official masterlist of rice cluster will be provided to ATI-RTC-CAR through the PMEU.
Meanwhile, GAD-related attributions should be integrated/reflected in the GAD Plans and Budget. In addition, it was agreed that the Regional Summit for Community Urban Agriculture Model Farms (CUAMF), will act as a platform to select regional representatives, in the national Search for the Best Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture Garden, if it is sustained.
In terms of Success Stories Documentation, ATI and RFO agreed to harmonize targets on the documentation and publication of success stories to avoid duplication of subjects. Also, ATI-CAR & DA-CAR agreed on the need to conduct internal training on video production for success stories. DA-CAR PMED expressed that it has a variety of data that can be utilized to develop a success story based on data-driven insights.
For the Training on Basic Agricultural Extension Course (BAEC), the body agreed to explore the possibility of including DA personnel. DA-RFO requested ATI-CAR to provide the course content of the said course.
Moreover, in support to the ENGINE (Engaging the Young Generations Towards Innovative Agri Enterprise) Program, it was agreed that the youth recipients can be invited as resource speakers to share and demonstrate the technologies they are actively practicing. These youths could also be considered as subjects for documenting success stories.
To address the request of SAAD Program for a Resource Speakers on their training interventions on technical topics, ATI-RTC-CAR, through the Partnership and Accreditation Section (PAS) will provide a list of LSAs and ENGINE beneficiaries, along with their specializations and contact details, to be considered as resource speakers.
Under the PGS, ATI-Central Office mandated the ATI regional centers to refrain from conducting additional PGS training unless certification targets are met. As such, there will be no training on PGS in FY 2025. As replacement activity, 6 batches of coaching and mentoring are targeted.
The DA-RFO-CAR agreed to consider qualified ATI-RTC-CAR’s LSAs as venue for its Technology Demonstration targets such as techno demo for agroecology-based rice farming, Palayamanan, SRI, HRP, Balanced Fertilization, and Palaycheck System.
For the Trainings for Financial Literacy, the possibility of considering and recasting the budget to include the provinces of Apayao, Ifugao, and Kalinga was considered. Financial Literacy is one of the courses under FBS. Further, conduits to Agri-Puhunan may be invited to attend the training of ATI-RTC-CAR this 2025.
Further, provincial activities such as foundation days and festivals will also be considered as factor in the implementation of targets. On the Special Order (S.O.) for AEWs, LGUs are expected to issue S.O. for AEWs involved in the implementation of different Banner Programs by January.
A Google sheet shared among partners meant to list ESETS PPAs will be created to facilitate the harmonization process and monitor agreements made to facilitate integration and coherence in the accomplishment of targets. ATI-RTC-CAR agreed to serve as facilitator.
During the closing program, Ms. Beverly T. Pekas, Chief of the Field Operation Division, DA-RFO-CAR commended everyone for a job well done. “I think all of us have realized the importance of this activity and I would like to thank Sir Charlie for gathering us all for this harmonization activity. We harmonize because we have a shared vision for all our farmer-beneficiaries to increase their productivity, profitability, and income and eventually reduce poverty. We have seen in our presented activities that we have many complementation areas from learning to support activities and I am happy that we are all one. We have seen the possibilities where we will complement each other, especially in terms of our expertise. So, let’s continue to work to optimize our resources,” she continued.
A total of 30 participants who represented their banner programs attended the said harmonization meeting from ATI-RTC-CAR and DA-RFO-CAR. The harmonization of Extension Support, Education, and Training Services (ESETS) has been conducted regularly in the region.//with reports from PMEU
