LOS ANGELES, Butuan City - The aim to provide quality and excellent extension services is not merely paper and words for the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center XIII (ATI-Caraga). Its total commitment to serve its citizen-customers is demonstrated through the recent ISO 9001: 2015 certification that it received from the global certification body TÜV SÜD Group.

The ISO 9001: 2015 is the latest revision of the international standard on quality management systems. It is an update of ISO 9001: 2008 certification which ATI-Caraga also received last year. Being ISO certified for two consecutive years indicates that the Center has maintained the standard specifically in the development and provision of trainings, knowledge products and services, accreditation of Extension Service Providers (ESP), scholarships, alliance building, national extension system planning, monitoring and evaluation.

The ATI-Caraga is among the eight training centers within the ATI network that was conferred the ISO certification. These centers include the ATI Central Office, International Training Center for Pig Husbandry (ITCPH), ATI-RTC II, ATI-RTC CAR, ATI-RTC VI, ATI-RTC VIII, ATI-RTC XII AND ATI-RTC XIII. Robert T. Poculan Jr. (ATI-Caraga Center Director in 2017) and Samuel L. Calonzo (current OIC-Center Director) received the certificate last January 29, 2018 at the ATI Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City. Present during the awarding was Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, and Dr. Luz A. Taposok, ATI National Director.