BOHOL. – The Academic and Technology Education Program (ATI-EP) of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) was revised/ modified by ATI-7 and now dubbed as Agricultural Technologies Training Program (AgriTech TP), a training intervention for the Out-of-School Youth who are graduates in the secondary level of the DepEd Alternative Learning System (ALS). This is in support of the Youth Empowerment through a Sustainable (YES) Program of the 4-H Club of the Philippines to prepare the youth as a new breed of competent farmers of the present generation.

Twenty out-of-school youth in the region who are high school ALS graduates completed the 75-day intensive in-house and on-field training from June 7 to August 20, 2018. The Graduation and Closing Ceremony was held at ATI-RTC 7 Training Complex, Tagbilaran City on August 20, 2018.

The guest speaker of the activity was Dr. Roland V. Villegas, Education Program Supervisor II, DepEd Region 7 wherein he stressed on his message that under the Applied Track subjects in Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL), the Agri-Fishery Arts strand got only 35% of the enrollees compared to that of 65% Home Economics; and 90% for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Industrial Arts respectively.

Thus, Dr. Villegas is happy knowing that ATI is having this kind of program that will help facilitate the need. On his message, he further emphasized that farmers are unsung heroes because they fed the majority three-times a day/7days a week infinitely.

Moreover, ATI7 Center Director on her message of support, encouraged the youths to adhere Go Negosyo’s TIPS (Theory, Inspiration, Practical and Start) since they already have the knowledge and skills acquired, thus materializing this unto their respective farms depend upon them, therefore, Dr. Daquio challenged the graduates by saying: “Who among you who will invite us to do a visit to your farm is yet to be known.”

Lilibeth Caroro, Provincial Agriculturist of the Province of Siquijor gave her impression as the Local Government Unit’s Representative that the AgriTech-TP graduates are the province’s advantage especially that Secretary Manuel Piñol on his visit last July 2017, declared Siquijor, as an Organic Island. Ms. Caroro thanked ATI for this program because of its timeliness to the call.

Meanwhile, Maricel O. Dagoy, DepEd ALS Coordinator in Siquijor, also expressed her gratitude to ATI in her impression because of the low turn-out of enrollees of ALS in the province. With this partnership, she hopes that this is not the end of it, rather the beginning of the long journey towards alternative learning. She was emotional while thanking ATI because this program gives hope to their graduates who do not know where to go after availing the ALS for their secondary education.

Elnard Ympal, the two-time National Gawad Saka Awardee for Young Farmer, who is the host and mentor of this AgriTech-TP, encouraged the graduates to press on. He stressed that through attitude and passion, all will be in its place. He said as quoted: “Do not mind others who considered us (farmers) as low key because we are responsible for feeding them all.”

The AgriTech-TP scholars were equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes in agriculture to enable them to become farmer and trainer in the future.

The integration of the Department of Education’s-Alternative Learning System (DepEd-ALS) curriculum, as well as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)’s skills assessment and ATI’s training and extension services, made the holistic package that these scholars are gaining.

Most of their input-practicum was learned at Elnard’s Integrated Farm in Candura, San Juan, Siquijor where they were trained and honed for 60 days and got two (2) National Certificates (NC) at TESDA on Organic Agriculture and Animal and Poultry Productions respectively. The remaining 15 days were spent at Que Alegre Farm in Alegria, Cebu, Binhi sa Panginabuhian Demo Farm and Training Center in Maribojoc, Bohol and at ATI-7.

To learn, the first batch of 20 ATI-EP is composed of elementary level aged 14-21 years old which were conferred last May 27, 2017, after they completed the six-months in-house and on-field training spearheaded by ATI in Central Visayas with the partnership of Department of Education-Alternative Learning System (DepEd-ALS).