BRGY. LOS ANGELES, Butuan City – The regional Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) team headed by Agricultural Training Institute- Caraga Center Director Samuel L. Calonzo participated in the virtual midyear assessment conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute – Central Office last July 16, 2020.

Said activity aimed to evaluate the physical and financial performance of all ATI RCEF Operating Units for the first semester of FY2020. It also served as a venue for knowledge sharing on the different strategies employed by the RTCs in implementing RCEF plans and programs amid pandemic.

During the virtual workshop, RCEF Point Person Violeta T. Laguna highlighted the accomplishments of ATI-RTC 13 which include the conduct of six batches of Information Caravan through the Information Services Section (ISS). She mentioned that of the 1,200 targets, a total of 1,319 farmers and other stakeholders were briefed on the benefits of RCEF and the procedures in availing the four components namely Rice farm machinery and equipment, Rice seed development, propagation, and promotion, Expanded rice credit assistance, and Rice extension services.

Moreover, Ms. Laguna then presented the targets for the second semester including its implementation schedules and mechanics. These include among others the conduct of 1 batch Refresher Course for rice seed growers by the last week of July and the SOA on Inbred Rice Seeds Production and Farm Mechanization under RCEF-RESP which commenced last July 9, 2020, and will run until October 2020.

Deputy Director and RCEF-RESP Chair Dr. Rosana P. Mula reminded the RTC operating units to indicate the detailed mechanics in implementing the blended trainings and other activities for the second semester.

RCEF technical staff Rejane M. Ata, Leah I. Napoco and John Paul Abonitalla also participated in the said activity (with a report from Rejane Ata).