Despite Covid-19 pandemic, another batch of School-on-the-Air on Smart Rice Agriculture (SOA-SRA) dubbed as “Palay Aralan: Makabagong Pagsasaka sa Himpapawid” finally concluded on July 29, 2021. A total of 433 enrolled farmer-beneficiaries, who are from the municipalities of Roxas and Taytay, specifically learned and equipped with modern rice farming technology.
ATI-MiMaRoPa Center Director Pat Andrew B. Barrientos gave his inspirational message via phone patch to the graduates. “Sana maisakatuparan natin ang lahat ng mga itinuro na mga technology on rice farming na nagmula sa ibat-ibang resource speaker para matupad natin ang ating pangarap na maging competitive sa larangan ng pagpapalayan. Ang mga magsasaka ang sinasandalan ng ating bansa para magkaroon tayo ng sapat na pagkain. Kaya pagbutihin at gamitin natin ang ating mga natutunan”, Dir. Barrientos said.
Provincial Agriculturist Romeo M. Cabungcal, who was represented by Administrative Officer Jun Zabala from the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAgO) also graced the culmination activity. “Napagtiyagaan ninyo ang tatlong buwan na pakikinig sa radyo. Nawa po ang inyong mga natutunan ay hindi lamang po nagagamit sa demonstration, sana magamit din sa aktwal ng pagsasaka ng palay. Nawa ang natutunan ninyo dito sa programa ay maibabahagi niyo rin sa ibang magsasaka, para mas marami pa ang makakaalam at makikinabang. Katuwang ninyo ang PAgO sa pagpapalago ng agrikultura sa Palawan”, Mr. Zabala said on his message.
During the graduation ceremony, top 20 outstanding students from the municipalities involved in the SOA-SRA were recognized. Awards such as rice seeds, fertilizers, knapsack sprayer were announced as prizes for the outstanding students of the program.
In partnership with the Department of Agriculture MiMaRoPa Region, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Regional Agriculture Fishery Council, Philippine Information Agency, and Western Philippine University, the SOA-SRA program was aired twice a week for three months at 94.3 DWIZ Palawan, every Tuesday and Thursday, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM; and 101.3 FM Radyo Natin Roxas, every Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM from May 11, 2021 to July 22, 2021.