Coordination meeting with the Provincial Agriculture Office personnel was conducted at AT-RTC 13, Los Angeles, Butuan City.
BUTUAN CITY – Coordinators from the participating Local Government Units (LGUs) in Agusan del Norte virtually convened last June 11, 2020 for a briefing and target-setting for the implementation of the School-on-Air (SOA) on Inbred Rice Production and Farm Mechanization under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP).
Ms. Violeta T. Laguna, OIC Chief of the Career Development and Management Services Section (CDMSS) of the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC 13) thanked the LGUs for their commitment to actively take part in this joint undertaking of ATI and the Provincial Government Unit of Agusan del Norte through the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) in promoting the adoption of inbred rice production and farm mechanization within the seven RCEF-priority areas. She emphasized that through face-to-face trainings and mass gatherings are now restricted under the “new normal” way of living, ATI ensures the continuous provision of extension services via alternative strategies such as web-based and radio-based interventions like SOA.
SOA In-charge Mary Grace B. Salve discussed the objectives, program mechanics as well as the roles of the partner-LGUs in the program. She enumerated the logistics support that will be provided by ATI to the provincial and municipal coordinators who will aid in the implementation including the provision of incentives and awards to outstanding enrollees. Salve also discussed the expected output, evaluation scheme and the topics covered by the SOA.
Mr. Rodolfo D. Nalla, Agricultural Technologist of PAO spearheaded the distribution of 320 target-enrollees among the seven participating LGUs namely Buenavista, Las Nieves, Cabadbaran City, RTRomualdez, Jabonga, Kitcharao and Butuan City. Enrollment and distribution of SOA kits are expected to be completed on or before June 26, 2020. Nalla will also serve as the program anchor and provincial SOA coordinator.
As agreed, the SOA will be officially launched during its first airing on July 9, 2020 at 5:30 – 6:30 am over Hope Radio Philippines – 93.5 FM and will run every Thursday thereafter for 16 weeks on a one-hour per week broadcast session.
It can be recalled that ATI called for a second coordination meeting last May 28, 2020 with the Provincial Agriculture Office in preparation for the briefing which was attended by Mr. Rodolfo D. Nalla and Benjie M. Villaruben.