BUTUAN CITY- The School-on-the-Air (SOA) Program on Smart Rice Agriculture (SRA) will be implemented in five (5) provinces of Region 13.

Members of the Regional Technical Working Group (RTWG) of the SOA-SRA which comprised Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 13, Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) 13 and Philippine Rice Research Institute-Agusan Experiment Station recently conducted the four briefing activities in the region. A briefing in Agusan del Norte province was held at ATI-Caraga, Brgy. Los Angeles, Butuan City on March 9, 2021.

Province of Agusan del Sur hold its briefing at the Provincial Agriculture and Veterinary Office (PAVO) in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur on March 10, 2021. Provincial FarmCaster Joel Corvera facilitated the said activity.

Presentation of the roles and responsibilities as well as overview of the SOA program on SRA highlights the briefing activities. Emmylou Presilda, Chief of the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section of DA-Caraga presented the overview of the SOA-SRA. Fil Victor Babanto, Chief of the Information Services Section of ATI-Caraga discussed the roles and responsibilities of the SOA Coordinators from the different Local Government Units.

Meanwhile, orientation on SOA SRA was also held in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur on March 11, 2021. Provincial Agriculturist Marcos M. Quico graced the said event and extended his full support to the program. Provincial Farmcaster and SOA coordinator Fritzieh Trujillo coordinated Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) in the different municipalities and cities of Surigao del Sur for their participation.

Moreover, the briefing activity in Surigao del Norte was facilitated by Provincial Farmcaster and SOA Coordinator Zenaida Peramide on March 12, 2021.

Commitment of target enrollees per province was also discussed during the briefing. Deadline on the submission of enrollment forms and Special Orders of the Municipal SOA Coordinators was set on April 15, 2021.