TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite – Recognizing the need for collaborative endeavors in agriculture and fishery development, the Agricultural Training Institute in Calabarzon develops a training manual to standardize the conduct of extension and training interventions in the region.

The creation of a manual for the “Extension and Training Management and Capability Development (ETMCD) Course is an initiative of Assistant Center Director, Mariel Celeste Dayanghirang. ETMCD was intended to strengthen linkages, consolidate and compliment resources, and come up with uniform performance standards in conducting extension and training activities in the region.

Its first run was in 2016, intended for the Center’s technical staff who were then Job Order personnel. Since then, three more batches were conducted for extension partners of ATI such as representatives from the National Agencies, Local Government Units, Learning Site Cooperators, SPAs (Schools for Practical Agriculture) and ESPs (Extension Service Providers), including a request of said training by BFAR IV-A.

During the quarantine period, technical staff were assigned to work on lessons and or modules situated within the ETMCD curriculum. The staff produced instructional materials and prototype modules and presented them online for critiquing. ACD Dayanghirang, along with the section chiefs served as panel of critics during the virtual presentations.

When the quarantine eased in Cavite, the staff presented again their draft modules for a final round of critiquing. The presentations and critiquing were held at the ATI Calabarzon Training Hall from August 26 - September 3, 2020. According to ACD Dayanghirang, the training manual is the culmination of learning from past experiences and insights gained from the previous ETMCD, incorporating results from resource persons’ and over-all training evaluation forms. It is expected to be finalized by the end of 2020.