LAOAC, Pangasinan - The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center I (ATI-RTC I) in partnership with the local government unit (LGU) of Laoac, Pangasinan recently awarded a number of agricultural equipment to the farmers and the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) of Barangay D’ Alarcio, Laoac, Pangasinan. On top of the 424 fruiting bags of mushrooms (awarded earlier in July), the barangay received ten (10) rice hull carbonizers, four (4) continuous carbonizers with pasteurizers, sprayers, and large plastic drums– beneficial to the community’s crop/plant cultivation.
The fruiting bags are tended and cultured inside D’ Alarcio’s Barangay Building, and managed by the members of the RIC . The barangay now holds more than 600 fruiting bags where they harvest an average of 1 kilo of oyster mushrooms daily.
During the awarding ceremony held on September 8, 2017 at the Barangay Hall of D’ Alarcio, Mr. Pedro Velasco, OIC-Municipal Agriculturist of Laoac, Pangasinan, imparted that Brgy. D’Alarcio intends to produce 10,000 fruiting bags of mushrooms. The barangay aims to focus on mushroom production and processing, which will ultimately provide livelihood to their farming community. However, Velasco stressed that the targeted number cannot be realized without the care and concern of the barangay. “Sana, ‘yong mga natatanggap nating biyaya ay alagaan natin at gamiting maayos dahil para rin ito sa ating sariling kabuhayan at kapakinabangan,” Velasco tells the people of Brgy. D’ Alarcio.
Likewise, the Center Director of the ATI-RTC I, Dr. Rogelio Evangelista, conveyed his message of inspiration to Brgy. D’Alarcio during the ceremonial activity. He stated that D’ Alarcio is lucky to be chosen by the Regional Agriculture and Fishery Extension Network I (RAFEN I) as the pilot barangay in Pangasinan to receive such special opportunity/support toward advancement. Evangelista encouraged the folks of D’ Alarcio to become role models to other barangays. He speaks, “When we show the success of this program to other barangays, they will follow the same path. So, let us help one another and build each other up instead of pulling each other down. That is our purpose here. While there is harmony and cooperation, there is fortune.”
The barangay officials of D’ Alarcio, headed by Brgy. Captain Arnold Patacsil, expressed their warm gratitude and appreciation to the RAFEN I and the ATI-RTC I for the sustained support all the way through the development of their rural and farming community. Patacsil says, “Isang malaking biyaya ang pagdating ng programang ito sa aming barangay. Malaki ang maitutulong nito sa aming maliliit na magsasaka at sa RIC para ma-improve namin ang aming pagsasaka at dumami ang aming produksyon.” He requested his constituents to constantly show interest and actively participate in all the projects of the RAFEN I and the ATI-RTC I. Patacsil believed that with unity and teamwork, Brgy. D’ Alarcio will grow strong and grandly prosper.