SUKAILANG, Surigao City – Gearing towards a harmonized extension system, the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 13 continues to strengthen the pillars of extension being the major partnership mechanism.

In line with this, ATI conducts a 3-day training on Capacitating the Regional Agriculture and Fishery Extension Network (RAFEN) member agencies to enhance their knowledge and deepen their commitment in the efficient delivery of extension services to various stakeholders from August 14-16, 2019.

Dr. Victor Emmanuel A. Ozarraga, Gawad Kalinga Consultant discussed the topic Transformational Leadership as an important skill in dealing with changes in the environment. Transformational leadership is a process where leaders and their followers raise one another to levels of morality and motivation. He emphasized that extension workers must have a better understanding of their core values to be able to understand and influence others to reach their full potentials.

In his message, OIC Center Director Samuel L. Calonzo said that though the provision of extension services is done by different agencies, we are guided by the same goal and the clients served are more or less the same. Calonzo also encouraged the participants to share the best practices of their respective agencies that can be replicated.

The next two days will be allotted for the formulation of Memorandum of Agreement between ATI and RAFEN member agencies and discussion of the guidelines for Learning Site for Agriculture. The participants will also have an opportunity to learn the best practices of JB Nature Farm, an integrated/diversified farm which is a certified Learning Site for Agriculture. Another part of the activity will be the formulation and presentation of individual action plan.