It is said that inspirations in life are found by looking at what is ahead of us but this humble guy found his inspiration by looking back.
Today Mr. Berto D. Bayeng stands proud to be one of the 113 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEW) of the Province of Benguet.
Early Beginnings
Mr. Bayeng, who serves as an Agricultural Technologist (AT) at the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAg) of the Municipality of Itogon recalls his journey towards the service which all started when he studied in college. “When I went to college, I wanted to enroll in BS Elementary Education because elementary teachers were in demand at that time but we did not have enough money for my studies. I was left undecided about what course to take so when I came to Benguet State University (BSU) and went over their programs I just decided to take the Diploma in Agroforestry which is a two-year program. I was then an SK official reason why I was able to finish my Diploma in Agroforestry as a scholar.”
He was supposed to apply for a job after graduation but his mentors thought otherwise. “Professor Carlos Tuguinay, one of our class advisers, told me that I was too young to work, I was just 17 at that time. Moreover, I can still use my scholarship since the barangay election did not push through. I then decided to enroll Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) since it is related to Agroforestry.”
Time seems to be so fast Mr. Bayeng recalls “I was down to my last year in school which is also one of the most challenging years of school. My last year in college includes writing my thesis and I consider myself lucky as my research got funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD)”
It was in the second semester of 1998 when Mr. Bayeng finally graduated with his BSA degree with a major in Horticulture and a minor in agribusiness. “I graduated early because some of my subjects from my Diploma Course were carried. I was also one of the first who studied at the BSU-Open University, where I took short courses on cut flower production, driving, and basic computer literacy.
The journey toward agricultural extension work
Immediately after graduation, he got hired as a research assistant at the Horticulture Department of BSU. Later in 2000, the Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Itogon opened the recruitment of agriculture trainees for Japan, and Mr. Bayeng joined the recruitment. “I applied and I was able to pass the recruitment process, we underwent the pre-departure training which include lessons on Nihongo. On September 15, 2001, I went to Japan. I came back December 15, 2002. After that I got hired at the MLGU Itogon as a farm worker at the municipal nursery. I was told to stay there while waiting for a higher position to be available. I felt unsatisfied staying there so I applied at the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA- RFO-CAR). I was hired as a research assistant under the Cordillera Highland Agriculture Resources Management (CHARM) Project.”
Mr. Bayeng’s stay with the CHARM Project earned him a lot of lessons. “We usually travel along the Halsema Highway, during that time it was not yet concreted. Mobility was then difficult as the roads are often muddy and prone to landslides during the rainy season and very dusty during the dry season. I remember one time we had to cover ourselves with a blanket during the whole trip otherwise we would be bathed in dust. I also had this experience when we went to Paracelis (a municipality in Mt. Province) where we got caught by members of the New People’s Army, fortunately, we were able to get out alive and safe.”
Finding his heart at home
After reflecting on his situation Mr. Bayeng finally decided to go back home and work in Itogon. “I worked as a casual employee for four months and as a volunteer for a month before I was appointed as a permanent AT in 2003. My first assignment was with the rice banner program and that was also the time I became fully in contact with the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center-Cordillera Administrative Region (ATI-RTC-CAR). The DA (Department of Agriculture) through the DA-RFO-CAR and the ATI-RTC-CAR in partnership with MLGUs was implementing the Farmer Led Extension (FLE) Program, Techno-Demos, and the Palay Check System Farmers Field School (FFS).”
Convincing and gathering farmers tested his patience and perseverance. “In Itogon agriculture is treated as just an option because we have the mines and that was a big challenge on our part. Most of our farmers are also small-scale miners and during times when the price and production of gold are at their peak, the farmers can afford to leave their farms in exchange for the search for gold. One of my office mates even experienced being frowned by farmers who even asked how much he earns from being an AT (as compared to what they can earn from mining), fortunately, I did not yet experience that.”
Being an AT brings a lot of challenges says Mr. Bayeng. “Itogon has a unique characteristic (as compared to other municipalities in Benguet) in terms of rice production. Most of our rice farmers in Itogon are tenants, the owner of most vast lands in Itogon are rich families who reside either in Poblacion, Itogon, or in Baguio City. Since the landowners decide and provide all of the inputs, the farmers are less inclined towards new technologies to improve their yield. This forced me to negotiate with the land owners, explain the program to them, and ask their permission to let their farms be used as venue for the FFS. This way the farmers consented to participate in the FFS. Another challenge during that time was mobility since I had to travel a day in advance because there was only one trip coming from and going to the rice areas of Itogon where the FFS is being conducted. I usually sleep at the house of my farmer-cooperator, then the next day I will do my fieldwork then I can go home. It was like that for some time then thankfully the Municipality was able to procure more vehicles and motorcycles making our mobility better this time.
Rice farmers in Itogon, as described by Mr. Bayeng are more interested in eating quality rice variety than the yield thus the farmers tend to stick to one variety for a very long time. “Through the FFS we were able to try and compare various varieties. We also tried recommended cultural vast practices in rice production and compared them to the usual farmer’s practices in Itogon. Today I am confident to say that our rice farmers in Itogon have a wider choice of varieties and practices best suited to their farms. They are now receptive to our programs since they themselves saw and experienced the difference.”
In the implementation of the FFS, Mr. Bayeng was able to build a closer relationship with his farmers and was able to infuse change among them. “One of my most notable farmer- cooperator is Mr. Cleto Simon. He is one of the best adopters of the FFS on Palay Check System. Through his adoption of the Palay Check System he was able to significantly increase his yield and today he is one of our best rice farmers in Itogon. Aside from rice, he is also into fruit production where he specializes in mango.”
The research continues
Mr. Bayeng also continued his research activities at the OMAg. “Since most of my work experience prior to my appointment at the OMAg was on research I also proposed research which the OMAg funded and we implemented with our farmers. We did research on jackfruit as it is widely produced in Itogon and marketed both inside and outside the Municipality. In the upper areas of Itogon where the elevation is as high as 2,000 meters above sea level jackfruit is produced and marketed as a vegetable. On the other hand, it is treated as a fruit in the lower areas where the elevation is as low as 200 meters above sea level. That is how extreme the topography is in Itogon and it is both an opportunity and a challenge. We also have our research on taro, actually, Itogon has a very big potential for root crops, especially taro. However, because it easily grows everywhere in Itogon it is not being valued that much. Taro in Itogon is just being given away or it serves as a feed for the pigs while it is so expensive in Baguio City which is one of Itogon’s closest neighbors. This gave me the idea of proposing research on taro which the OMAg again approved and funded.”
In order for Mr. Bayeng to implement his research, he needs to find a willing farmer cooperator. “It was during the implementation of this research that I met Mrs. Milagros Just who later became our Magsasaka Siyentista under the Techno Gabay Program (TGP). Mrs. Justo was very accommodating and she was also very patient with me as I had to practically disturb her and her farm during the implementation of the research. Most importantly she was very receptive to the technologies and practices I introduced.
Today, Mrs. Justo markets her taro through direct orders from regular customers. She produces and markets three varieties namely the Kiangan, Mindanao, and Itsina. These varieties came from the Northern Philippines Root Crops Research and Training Center (NPRCRTC) at BSU. I was able to request these varieties for our field trials during my preparation for the research which she adopted. These varieties were identified by the NPRCRTC as the varieties with the highest market potential in Benguet the reason why I have chosen these for our trials.”
During the implementation of the research, Mr. Bayeng subjected a lot of farm practices and beliefs of taro farmers in Itogon into trials across various taro varieties and in both dry and wet seasons. “In Itogon taro farmers have a lot of practices and beliefs some of which are good and some are not that relevant. One classic example is the most favorable month for planting gabi. I told them, well then let us plant every month and let us see what happens. We did plant every month, treated the samples equally, and recorded our observations. That was an activity that lasted for the whole year. We started in December 2013 and ended in January 2014. We then gathered to compare the yield of the taro planted at different months of the year, the yield if not the same are so close to one another thus disproving such hypothesis.”
Mr. Bayeng did not stop, as an agriculturist who came from the field of research he was able to read various researches and technologies in agriculture and he wished to try these at home. “The farmers also believe that the bigger planting materials are the better will be the yield. As an agriculturist, I did not feel comfortable with it since taro plantlets can be used as good planting materials and the bigger corms can be sold since these commands a higher market price. I said to myself, shall we also try taro plantlets, maybe this technology is site specific. The farmers were laughing at me when I told them the idea, nonetheless, we proceeded. After we planted the taro plantlets and the usual planting materials of our farmers they told me that in two weeks the plantlets will be rotten. I came back two weeks after and gathered the farmers and to their surprise, the plantlets were growing just like the planting materials they planted. We also harvested both at the same time and gathered almost the same yield.”
Being fully aware of the administrative responsibilities of conducting research Mr. Bayeng made a strategy for the research to complete a whole-year cycle. “I had to make arrangements with the MLGU and thankfully they allowed the researchers to use a revolving fund thus we were able to conduct it for a whole cycle.”
Mr. Bayeng was also persistent in further convincing the farmers to also venture into taro production since it is a very promising venture. “I have to convince them so I presented how much they can gain from taro production as compared to rice production.
I told them, in a square meter of a taro field with a distance of 50 by 75 centimeters you can plant six hills and that will still produce offshoots. In a square meter, you can harvest a minimum of three kilograms of premium tubers which can be sold for as high as 50 pesos per kilo while the offshoots can be sold as food or as planting materials which is two pesos per piece in Itogon. Moreover, the taro stalks and leaves can be sold as vegetables. As compared to rice where in a square meter you can only plant a maximum of 25 hills. Let us say the 25 hills yielded two kilos of dried palay which is being sold at 17 pesos per kilogram, the taro is still able to give bigger returns. That is only for the yield how about the cost of production, rice has a higher production cost as compared to taro as it demands more inputs and labor.”
Opportunities and chances
Being true to his duties as a civil servant and as an extension worker, Mr. Bayeng earned the trust and respect of his office mates and the officials of Itogon. On October 4, 2011, immediately after the retirement of their Municipal Agriculturist Mr. Whigas P. Cilo, he was designated as the OIC-Municipal Agriculturist of Itogon even though he was the youngest staff of the OMAg. His appointment lasted for only a month but he continued to do his best. “I was the OIC (-MA) at that time and we were also conducting our research on jackfruit. I went to the BSU Entomology Department to submit an insect pest for identification where I saw
Mr. Nover Basquial. I knew him because he is an active farmer and we meet often but I did not know he is the Magsasaka Siyentista of Kabayan. Because I was not yet aware of the Techno Gabay Program at that time. After a short chat, I followed him to the Highland Agriculture, Aquatic Resources Research and Development Consortium (HAARRDEC) headquarters. Dr. Maddul (Dr. Sownright D. Maddul, HAARRDEC Consortium Director) invited me to join the meeting. That was the time I got informed about the Techno Gabay Program. Upon my return we complied with the requirements, the MLGU adopted the program and I was designated as the FITS Center Manager up to the present.”
Birth of the organic extensionist
In 2012, Mr. Bayeng was designated as the Municipal Organic Agriculture (OA) Focal Person. “At that time it was very challenging since our farmers in Itogon have a very low rate of adoption. Some even told us that we are making them like fools. I applied the same strategy that we adopted under the Rice Program. It was also during that time that the ATI-RTC-CAR was funding Farmers Field School under the Organic Agriculture Program so I took that opportunity to enlighten the perspective of our farmers and increase the adoption of organic agriculture in Itogon. There was even a time when I got two slots of FFS instead of just one since there were no takers in the Region.
Today, there are three OA organizations in Itogon namely the Itogon Kintoman Group, the Ampucao Organic Farmers Association, and the Barangay Loakan Organic Farmers Association (BLOFA) who were organized and continuously capacitated through their facilitator, Mr. Berto Bayeng. “The Itogon Kintoman Group and the Ampucao Organic Farmers Association are now on their ICS Phase 2 and ICS Phase 3 respectively while the BLOFA is now applying for their Third Part Certification from the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (OCCP).”
The Municipality of Itogon is the only municipality in the Cordillera Administrative Region that has an ordinance declaring the Municipality as an Organic Agriculture Municipality reveals Mr. Bayeng with a smile. “As the OA Focal Person, I had to explain and defend the ordinance when it was still being proposed at the Sanguniang Bayan. They kept on asking me what I want and what am I asking them. This pressed me to explain it to them detail by detail including the funding and other responsibilities of the MLGU under the proposed ordinance. After a series of deliberation, the Sanguniang Bayan passed the ordinance. A part of our annual budget and as strengthened by the OA ordinance is an annual municipal organic congress. Again, the Municipality of Itogon is the only municipality in the Region that was able to sustain the congress for three consecutive years.”
As a part of the Municipality’s adoption of the Organic Agriculture they were able to declare their own OA zone, says Mr. Bayeng.
“We were able to convince the Sanguniang Bayan and the Barangay Local Government of Loakan, Itogon to declare the whole Barangay as an OA zone through a Municipal and Barangay Ordinance. Another advocacy that we are currently promoting is the integration of organic agriculture within the mining communities of Itogon through urban gardening. Today, you can see mothers in Barangays Tuding and Poblacion tending to their potted vegetables at home. In 2015 our Municipality was awarded as the Regional Outstanding OA Municipality under the LGU category. The Itogon MLGU got the same award in 2016”
Lessons learned
As he was starting as an AEW at the MLGU of Itogon, Mr. Bayeng met and learned from a lot of people in the extension service. “It was through the FFS that I met Sir RAC (Robert A. Cayanos, retired TS IV, ATI-RTC-CAR) and Sir Cris (Cristino E. Balancio, Sr. Agriculturist, ATI-RTC-CAR). I always remember them because they taught me how to do effective presentations. It was from them that I learned the importance of a presentation plan. I realized that it is a very effective tool to keep me on the right track during any presentation. It will ensure the success of my presentation even if someone suddenly asks a question or there are some distractions during my presentation. I can still continue my delivery and attain my objectives. I started in the service with so less, then I was trained by ATI. The ATI-RTC-CAR even the
DA-CAR subject us to training before granting us projects but the capability-building aspect for us is always emphasized here in ATI. We were always told by Ma’am Arlene (Arlene L. Flores, Training Center Director, ATI-RTC- CAR), that we are the ATI in our locality thus on our end it is always wise to equip ourselves technically. I took this as a challenge on my part and I really have to try my best always to equip myself. I have to bear in mind that in the event that someone asks me something and I do not know or I am not sure of my answer, then they will not believe or they will doubt whatever I say the next time. I also realized that whatever I learned in school, it is to qualify me for the job and is meant to be my foundation. However, things will vary in the actual performance, in the delivery of services. I did not learn the projects and services being delivered by the government in school, I learned it in the field.
Mr. Bayeng considers the knowledge and skill of writing proposals very essential not just in availing funds but also in the whole extension service. “I remember that when I was still starting as an AT, our former MA Mr. Whigas P. Cilo, always delegate the preparations of proposals covering my area and field of assignment. Honestly, I used to complain and felt bad about it, but now I am very grateful because he actually prepared me for all of these.”
Of challenges and coping mechanisms
The agricultural extension does not escape the shadows of politics as Mr. Bayeng relates. “The last 13 years brought me to three mayors and a different set of elected and appointed officials with different personalities. In the MLGU, where the Mayor and the Sangguniang Bayan practically control the implementation of projects and programs, everything will depend on how we present our proposed interventions to them. In my case, I had to thoroughly explain my proposals and let them understand and known that they are part of the implementation process. Another point that I always emphasized to them is that there is always a counterparting scheme. In my experience, things had been going well so far with our political leaders. As I said, provided that they understand the program, they will always support it.
Fully aware of the challenges ahead, Mr. Bayeng still chooses to be committed to the service as an AEW. “There are a lot of challenges in the extension work, especially at the municipal level. One of the most popular is the limited funds for the agriculture sector. In Itogon, which is a mining town and agriculture is viewed as just an alternative source of income, we always have to convince our local leaders to support it. Most people believe, that the government has limited funds to implement its projects and programs, but I don’t believe it is really like that. In my case, when the Municipality has no available funds, I go out and a lot of National Government Agencies and even private institutions are willing to provide fund support. Take for example the series of FFS we conducted in Itogon both for the Rice Program and the Organic Agriculture Program, though some have been fully funded by either the ATI or the DA-CAR, many were funded through counterparting. For instance, the demo materials and inputs are funded by either the ATI-CAR or the DA-CAR, while the food and other logistics are provided by the MLGU. Another example is the Itogon Kintoman Group which is now undergoing Internal Control System (ICS) training under the ATI-CAR. While they were being trained, the San Roque Power Corporation offered the group a rice processing facility at the same time their products are either bought or marketed by the San Roque, all that I have to do is to prepare a proposal and submit it to them. Our latest Municipal Organic Agriculture Congress was also a product of counterparting between the DA-CAR and the MLGU of Itogon. We did the same we inquired, we coordinated, I wrote and submitted the proposal, and we were able to deliver.”
Future Plans
Mr. Bayeng dreams big for the agriculture sector of Itogon. “I want to further institutionalize our programs at the municipal level. We started with the OA Program, we have our ordinances, and now we will focus on the institutionalization of the budget. I have these plans in because I wanted that whoever will be running the program, regardless if it will be me or not, if I am still with the OMAg or not, the programs will still be funded and will continue.
Staying Inspired
Mr. Berto D. Bayeng’s efforts as an AEW did not pass unnoticed under the eyes of the MLGU-Itogon, the Provincial LGU of Benguet, and the Department of Agriculture. In 2014, he was awarded the Regional Outstanding Municipal Focal Person on OA, and in 2015 he was recognized as the Regional Outstanding AEW in the Cordillera Administrative Region. He was also a National Finalist for both awards which are mandated under RA 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010. In 2016, he was chosen as Itogon’s Municipal Nominee and Benguet’s Provincial Nominee, for the 2016 Regional Search for Outstanding OA Focal Person. After a series of rigorous evaluations, Mr. Bayeng was eventually awarded the 2016 Regional Outstanding OA Focal Person for the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Mr. Bayeng shares his thoughts on how he keeps his optimism high amidst the challenges of being an AEW. “In most cases when an AT enters government service in the MLGU he/she will retire as an AT just the same unless he/she is appointed as the Municipal Agriculturist. That is the picture of AEWs in most MLGUs, we have a very small window for promotion. Of course, there are still a lot of other discouragements and obstacles along the way. However, when you will see that your job needs you, your client needs you, all of the discouragements and negative thoughts inside you will disappear.”
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