MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – The Training of Trainer on High Qulaity Inbred Rice Seeds, Seed Certification and Farm Mechanization recently wrapped up on July 24, 2020 at the NMACLRC, Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon with the participants armed with new learning and new networks they all shared in the 5 day face-to-face activity.

As it is a blended course, the first week of the training of July 13 to 17 were all online lectures and follow-ups of the assignments of the participants with Mr. Efren C. Macario as the regular speaker and Mr. Bryan Jay V. Cabugwason as his assistant being the Project Officer of the training.

The following week on July 20 to 24, the face to face activity transpired with the first day being a session with RCEF partners in the morning and a session with agri-experts in the afternoon. For the morning session, it was participated by Engr. Edgar Testa of PhilMech, Ms. Maria Socorro Mellomida from NFA, Mr. Gabriel Jun M. Rara from Landbank of the Philippines, Mr. Efren C. Macario of ATI and Mr. Cyril Udtojan from PhilRice.

On the otherhand, several rice experts were present during the session, namely: Engr. Alson G. Quimba and Ms. Maria Lilith M. Turan from the Provincial Agrculture Office of Bukidnon, Ms. Elizabeth Jurolan from the City Agriculture Office of Malaybalay City, Mr. Roy P. Alamban from PCIC, Ms. Meddy A. Mendoza and Ms. Rhea Connie C. Villas from BPI-NSQCS and Engr. Ian D. Madjus from PhilMech.

More activities awaited the participants in the next days of the training including the hands-on activity on machineries where they were able to learn how to handle the rice mechanical transplanter, hand tractor and rice combine harvester to which they were very thankful since some of them already have the machinery but does not know how to use it.

The participants expressed their thanks during their graduation ceremony for the learning opportunity and to be able to join the said training.

In the closing message of Mr. Efren C. Macario, he reiterated, “Leaders don’t create followers, they create leaders.” He emphasized how they play a very big role in educating our dear farmers. He also told them to focus on their product, create their own branding and build their credibility. “Make this day your one day in reaching your destination,” Mr. Macario said.