DILIMAN, Quezon City- After successfully completing the Pre-Departure Orientation Course, 50 young farmers were sent-off through a Ceremony for the Filipino Young Farmers Internship Program (FYFIPT) in Taiwan Batch 5.
The FYFIPT is a partnership between the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TEC0) through a Memorandum of Understanding. It aims to enhance the relations through the implementation of an internship program for qualified young Filipino farmers.
Present during the event were TECO Deputy Representative His Excellency Wallace Minn-Gan Chow; MECO Chairperson and Resident Representative Atty. Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil; representative from the DA - International Affairs Division; and partners from the provincial and municipal local government units. Also present were from the Agricultural Training Institute headed by Director Remelyn R. Recoter, and the Center Directors of the ATI Regional Training Centers.
In his message of support, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. expressed his pride and hope for the young farmers, ”As you step onto Taiwanese soil, remember that you are not just representing yourselves but the flag of our nation. Prepare yourselves to learn about Taiwan’s modernized agricultural system, with the support of your host farmers. When you return to our country, I urge you to share the technologies and practices you have learned with your communities and inspire development among your fellow farmers through innovation and creativity. Know that we are sending you off with pride and hope”.
Likewise, ATI Director Remelyn Recoter reminded the young farmers, “Remember, fire your ambitions with hard work and prayers. The way of addressing the dwindling Filipino farmers is through the participation of the younger generation, through your way of encouragement and participation.”
The Internship program consists of acquisition of skills and knowledge through modern agricultural and fisheries techniques including value chain management, cooperative management and enhancement of competencies, discipline, and values.
The send-off ceremony was held last November 11, 2024 at the Rural Development Education Center, ATI Compound, Diliman, Quezon City.
*With reports from Joshua Ace Marcos, Partnerships Accreditation Division (PAD)
