With the aim to promote, propagate, further develop and implement the practice of organic agriculture in region 1 towards a competitive and sustainable organic industry, ATI Ilocos Region launched the School On-the-Air on Organic Agriculture Production (SOA-OAP) on May 17, 2022, participated by over 700 farmer leaders, farm cooperators, and agri-enthusiasts around the region.

SOA-OAP is currently aired over 981 KHz DZRD Sonshine Radio in Dagupan City, Pangasinan and live streamed at ATI Ilocos Region and DZRD 981 Facebook pages. It airs every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays at 10:00-11:00 AM. Enrollees are supervised by the designated SOA Coordinators in each of the participating cities/municipalities.

Moreover, SOA-OAP relates the initiatives on the promotion of organic agriculture in Region 1, demonstrates the preparation and usage of the different kinds of organic fertilizers, produces organic concoctions and extracts, and applies concepts on organic animal production, aquaculture technologies, rice production and record keeping.

The SOA-OAP program is spearheaded by the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 1 (ATI-RTC 1) in partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and in coordination with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPag), and various local government units in the region. Anchorpersons of the program come from ATI-RTC 1 while resource persons are TESDA certified trainers on OA production from different Learning Sites of Agriculture in the region and subject matter specialists from different National Government Agencies (NGAs) and DA-attached agencies.

The program is also being blended with hands-on demonstration activities that will be conducted at the identified Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSA) in Pangasinan which are also TESDA Accredited Assessment Center. A total of 100 participants will be identified based on the set criteria to on undergo with the blended activities and Organic Agriculture Production NC II assessment.

Mass graduation of SOA-OAP is planned to be conducted face-to-face on July 22, 2022 at ATI-RTC 1, Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.