STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan - The Agricultural Training Institute- Regional Training Center I conducts a regionwide field evaluation of projects under the Extension Program for Agri-Fisheries and National Development (ExPAND) or Grant System from February to December 2020. The ExPAND, implemented in 2018, was able to finance 75 proposed projects of extension partners such as the Provincial and Municipal Local Government Units, State Universities and Colleges, and Private Extension Service Providers in Region I. Of the 75 projects, 20 are located in Ilocos Norte, 3 in Ilocos Sur, 20 in La Union, and 32 in Pangasinan.
The field evaluation is scheduled every last week of the month where it already took off on February 26-28 in Pangasinan and La Union. Projects visited and evaluated in Pangasinan include: 1) Initiatives for Livelihood Advancement and Welfare thru Integrated Diversified Organic Farming System (ILAW-IDOFS of Puregreen Eco Farm in Calasiao; 2) Goat Raising Project of LGU- Mangatarem; 3) Organic Production of RoHeim Inc., San Fabian; 4) Lowland Strawberry Production of Paraiso Del Valour, Alaminos City; 5) Enhancement of Learning Site Integrating Organic Agriculture Production of Rogate Oasis Organic Farm, Bolinao; and, 6) Community-Based Organic Production towards Food Availability of Greentop Organix' Farm, San Fabian.
On the other hand, projects evaluated in La Union were the Season-Long Farmers Poultry School of Rocapor's Farm Training Center, and Vermicomposting and Inland Tilapia Culture Project of LGV Farm, both located in the municipality of Rosario. The Quest for Water Project of Bambu sa Pinas in Pugo was the last itinerary of the monitoring and evaluation team in February.
In this activity, the proponents are interviewed on how they implement their projects and the extent of accomplishment of their proposed timelines and deliverables. Their responses are validated by verifying their records and conducting ocular inspections of their established projects.
Results of the evaluation are disseminated within the Center during monthly staff meetings. Issues and challenges encountered by the proponents/partners will also be discussed with the Office of the Center Director and concerned personnel for their necessary actions.
This field monitoring and evaluation is manned by the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Services Unit (PMESU), and supervised by Dr. Melinda F. Mangabat, Assistant Center Director, and Focal Person of ExPAND.