Rural Based Organizations (RBOs) focal persons are being trained in policy and planning by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) to step up its efforts in making agriculture and fisheries programs more effective.
From September 22–26, 2025, ATI hosted a five-day course on the Fundamentals of Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PPME) at the ATI Rural Development Education Center (ATI-RDEC) in Diliman, Quezon City. Thirty-five participants from ATI Regional Training Centers and the Central Office, including staff from the Partnerships and Accreditation and Policy Planning Divisions, joined the training.
The program aimed to help participants design and manage extension projects that truly meet community needs. They learned how to set clear performance indicators, use planning tools like problem and objective trees, and conduct stakeholder mapping. These skills are essential in creating programs that are evidence-based, measurable, and sustainable.
ATI Director Remelyn R. Recoter, in her opening message, stressed that a strong foundation in PPME is key to ensuring interventions are well-planned, properly implemented, and thoroughly assessed. “This training equips you with the clarity, accuracy, and accountability needed to deliver lasting impact,” she told participants.
Resource persons included Mr. Bernard James Tandang of ATI’s Policy Planning Division and Dr. Jalton G. Taguibao of the University of the Philippines. Dr. Taguibao walked participants through key concepts, tools, and methodologies in PPME, while also emphasizing the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility in program development.
The training wrapped up with a hands-on workshop where participants developed and presented their own PPME concept notes—putting theory into practice and strengthening their capacity to plan and evaluate real-world extension projects.
Through initiatives like this, ATI continues to invest in people at the frontlines of agricultural development—ensuring that programs for farmers and fishers are not only well-designed but also deliver meaningful results in the communities they serve.
Author: Jovanee de la Cuadra
