LAOAC, Pangasinan - Agricultural Training Institute- Regional Training Center I (ATI-RTC I) awarded 80,000-peso assistance to Mr. Domingo C. Dulay, farm cooperator and owner of MaDoMa Farm in Sitio Paitan, Brgy. D’ Alarcio, Laoac, Pangasinan last September 25.
The financial support handed by Dr. Rogelio C Evangelista, ATI-RTC I Center Director, is intended for the enhancement of the MaDoMa Farm as a school for practical agriculture (SPA).
“Marami na’ng naitulong ang ATI sa akin at sa farm ko. Personally, I have been a recipient of numerous training since 2014. And three times in a row, the ATI had given me monetary assistance to enhance the MaDoMa Farm. I have so much to thank ATI,” says Mr. Dulay.
It was the third time Mr. Dulay’s farm received such financial assistance from the ATI-RTC I. The first was granted in April 2014 for the launching of his farm as a learning site, and the second was given in July 2016 for the launching of his farm as a school for practical agriculture.
For the past three years of strong partnership with ATI- RTC I and the Local Government Unit of Laoac, Pangasinan, the MaDoMA Farm had progressed rapidly. Today, it can be classified as one of the possible farm tourism sites in the Province of Pangasinan.
Mr. Dulay aspires to attract tourists and agri-enthusiasts to his farm in the future. His farm has made a good development, yet it has a long way to go to grow into a farm tourism site. To become a farm tourism site, the MaDoMa Farm must have aesthetic features, added activities, processing center, souvenir shop, and safety features. Furthermore, the farm will have to undergo evaluation and inspection from the Department of Tourism.
According to Mr. Dulay, many believe that Madoma Farm has a considerable potential to become a farm tourism site. However, he added that the farm needs some improvement and may be ready for about one and a half years more. As of now, Mr. Dulay is not in a hurry.