MALILIPOT, Albay โ The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) participated in the five-day Communications Onboarding and Planning Workshop held from August 24 to 28, 2026, at Gamboaโs Orchard, Malilipot, Albay. The activity was spearheaded by the Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA) Project, in collaboration with the Department of AgricultureโRegional Field Office V (DA-RFO V), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Technical Assistance Team, and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).ย
The activity brought together representatives from partner national government agencies and technical staff from Regions II, V, X, XII, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). Participating agencies included DA-Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division, DA-Regional Field Offices, DA-Climate Resilient Agriculture Office, and DA-Field Operation Service. They were joined by representatives from the Public Information Office and Provincial Agriculture Office in Cagayan and Isabela, the DOST-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Service, the CAR Field Operations, and the APA Project National Project Management Office and Field Office.
Graced by Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla of DA-RFO V and Assistant Secretary U-Nichols A. Manalo, APA National Project Director, the sessions were led by communication and technical specialists from DA, FAO, and PAGASA, who emphasized the importance of strategic communication in bridging climate information into climate action.
Serving as one of the key resource persons was Project Communications Specialist Bernadette Joven of the FAO Technical Assistance Team, who introduced the APA Communications Bridge and guided the participants in developing communication strategies aligned with the projectโs vision and theory of change. Other experts presented APAโs core componentsโClimate Information Services (CIS), Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA), and Mainstreaming CRAโalongside cross-cutting priorities such as gender equality, social inclusion, and environmental safeguards.
Throughout the sessions, participants engaged in workshops and peer reviews to thoroughly assess the communication landscape, identify priority audiences, and draft regional communication plans. They showcased their outputs through collaborative planning exercises, integrating climate information into CRA enterprise development and refining strategies for scaling and sustainability.
The workshop culminated in the presentation of the APA National and Regional Communication Plans, alongside the establishment of governance structures, editorial calendars, and monitoring frameworks. These outputs will serve as the foundation for a unified communications program that supports APAโs objectives and ensures effective knowledge sharing among stakeholders.
This initiative underscores ATIโs commitment to advancing climate-smart agriculture through strategic communication. By equipping extension workers and partners with modern tools and frameworks, the APA Project strengthens institutional partnerships as it empowers farmers and fisherfolk to adapt and thrive in the face of climate change.
The APA Project is a seven-year initiative that aims to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable farming communities to climate change. Through localized Climate Information Services (CIS) and Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA) practices, it supports farmers in making informed decisions, adapting to climate risks, and building more resilient agricultural livelihoods.
