DILIMAN, Quezon City - As an initiative to fast-track the agricultural and fishery development in Region 1 thru information and communication services, the Information Services Section (ISS) of the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center I participated in the IS Limitless: 3rd Knowledge Management Updates and Collaborative Learning Activity held on December 3-6, 2018 at the ATI-Rural Development and Education Center (RDEC), Diliman, Quezon City, and at the Roheim Inc. Farm and Wellness Resort, San Fabian, Pangasinan.

This annual assembly aimed to provide the ISS staff across the country an avenue for learning, a review of accomplishments of each region, and setting of direction for 2019. Likewise, the IS Collaborative Learning Activity focused on enhancing social and working relations among the IS staff in order to improve performance in a team-based environment.

Dr. Alfredo Aton, acting Director of ATI, graced the activity with his presence, and shared his message putting an emphasis on the enhancement of Social Media in promoting agriculture and fishery technologies to the youth. “Kailangang ma-upgrade pa natin nang husto ang ating social media para maibalik yung gana ng ating mga kabataan sa agrikultura at ma-inform sila na may mga modern technologies tayo. In order to reach that, ganun po ang kinakailangan natin. Susunod lang tayo sa trends ng ating millennials. Kung pwede magkaroon din kayo ng conference with our farmers para malaman nila yung mga farming technologies at nang di sila mahirapan,” Aton said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Antonieta “Niet” Arceo, Chief of Information Services Division discussed the e-Learning program’s ‘Going Mobile and Going Offline’, which she considered an answer to areas that do not have internet connection. She also talked about the re-designing of the portal of e-Extension. “If you are familiar with e-Learning, kailangan pang may slash e-Learning. Wala tayong nakukuhang content na galing sa e-Extension. So what we want to do for next year is take out all the techno-kits. We will get all your developed contents, yung mga techno-based IEC materials and upload them doon sa site for the e-Extension to have the Digital Learning Resources outside. We have also plan to develop a Netflix-Video type para yun ung magiging part ng content, kasi ang laging napo-promote ay yung e-Learning part while the techno-based materials are not being promoted,” Arceo stated.

One of the highlights of the activity was the Awarding of IS Achievers 2018. It aimed to recognize the noteworthy accomplishments of regional IS Sections, wherein ATI-RTC I bagged three awards. Another significant activity was the Presentation of IS Best Practices per Center in which Ms. Maricel Dacapias, Head of ISS-Regional Training Center 1, presented the School on-the-Air Program and Media Connections of ATI-RTC I.

There were also two lectures delivered during the activity. One is about the Freedom of Information Manual of the ATI presented by Mr. Joeven Calasagsag, ISD staff. Mr. Calasagsag emphasized that the purpose of FOI manual is to provide the process, to guide and assist the ATI including its Network and Regional Training Centers in dealing with requests of information received. In addition, a lecture on Corporate Branding was discussed by Mr. Ian Belleza of the Manilla Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Mr. Belleza pointed out the importance of corporate branding in the overall advertising efforts and all communications.

Following the 3rd KM Updates was the two-day IS Collaborative Learning held at the Roheim Inc. Farm and Wellness Resort, an ATI-RTC I accredited Learning Site and Extension Service Provider located in San Fabian, Pangasinan.