TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite – Members of the Regional Agriculture and Fishery Extension Network (RAFEN) and five new technical staff from ATI RTC IV-A are completing their community immersion in five municipalities of Laguna, Batangas and Rizal province.

ATI RTC IV-A technical staff Ms. Jamila Monette Balmeo leads her group in Magdalena, Mr. Ric Jason Areza in Mabitac Laguna, Mr. Hans Christopher Flores in Lobo, Batangas, Ms. Julie Ann Ancheta in Pililla, and Ms. Juvelyn Dela Cruz in Baras, Rizal.

The immersion completes the three phases of the ETMCD (Extension and Training Management Capability Development Course), intended for the aforementioned participants. In this phase, the participants live together with a host family for five days to generate the barangay profile, and the existing cultural farming practices using PRRA (Participatory Rapid Rural Appraisal) tools, and Community Organizing approaches. They will validate the generated data to the community to identify the needs that can be addressed by training and extension.

Meanwhile, Phase 1 and Phase 2 combine theories and practices in personal orientation, multiple intelligence assessment, extension, training cycle, adult learning, community organizing, and micro-teaching. All three phases of the ETMCD Course aim to provide the participants with common orientation and skills in conducting training courses and extension activities, thus coming up with performance standards for all RAFEN members.

Twenty five new ATI RTC IV-A technical staff and RAFEN members from National Irrigation Administration (NIA), National Dairy Authority (NDA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Provincial Agriculture and Veterinary Offices and the private sector are expected to complete the Course on April 16 – 17, 2018.