DILIMAN, Quezon City – Graduates of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Educational Assistance for the Youth in Agriculture (EaSy Agri) Program Batch 1 paid a courtesy visit to the ATI Central Office following their successful employment with New Hope Precision Agriculture Corporation.
ATI Director Remelyn Recoter, MNSA, CESO III, together with Deputy Director Antonieta Arceo, warmly welcomed the graduates, along with their employers and New Hope Precision Agriculture Corporation representatives, Anthony Tan and Charissma De Guzman.
The scholars were among the candidates endorsed by ATI for potential job placement with the company. Out of 21 applicants who underwent a rigorous selection process, only four successfully passed and are now officially employed by New Hope Precision Agriculture Corporation.
Successful candidates Jovelyn Escote, Andrew Jose Villanueva, Paulyn Canto, and Dianne Gagnan have already achieved significant professional milestones. Three of them are now certified by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority as Accredited Responsible Care Officers (ARCO).
In the coming months, they are set to undergo intensive drone flight training in Bukidnon. This training forms part of the requirements for certification by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), specifically for the issuance of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Controller Certificate as an essential credential for agricultural drone operations.
The EaSy Agri Program is one of the key initiatives of the Department of Agriculture, funded under the National Rice Program and implemented by ATI. It is a college scholarship grant that supports the children of smallholder farmers and fishers who are inclined toward agriculture, providing them with equal opportunities to pursue degree programs in agriculture and related fields.
Through programs like EaSy Agri, and partnerships with the private sector that ensure graduate employability, opportunities in modern agriculture are becoming more accessible. This demonstrates that with the right support, there is indeed renewed hope for the youth and the future of the agricultural sector.
Written by: Joeven C. Calasagsag
