TAGBILARAN CITY. – Grounded with the following objectives; that is to establish a team to operationalize the extension initiatives that will contribute to building a climate-resilient agriculture and fishery livelihoods/community as well as to identify a vulnerable area that will serve as the pilot community and target beneficiaries and finally to draw support services of commitment from the partners and stakeholders, the Agricultural Training Institute in Central Visayas organized and or established a Climate Risk Reduction Network last May 16-17, 2017 at the center’s training hall in Cabawan District, this city.

Eighteen stakeholders representing various agencies like Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Bohol; Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)-Bohol; National Irrigation Administration (NIA)-Regional Office 7; Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 7 (DA-RFO7); Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)-Bohol with Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO-Bohol) and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO-Bohol) headed the call by ATI-RTC 7.

These stakeholders were delighted of the network because of the timeliness of the program. With Training Specialist I and Regional Climate Change Focal Person, Joemelyn S. Allianic of ATI-RTC 7 who spearheaded the activity, the following output were generated: a) The Climate Risk Reduction Network in the province of Bohol was organized with an eight (8) agency-membership including ATI; b) Identification of pilot site qualifying the criteria that are prone to disaster which livelihood on farming and fishing is greatly attributed; and c) the next steps that this newly-organized network will be doing for the succeeding months/years of collaboration.

The members of this network are comprised of the following representatives: Aqua Technicians Ana Liza O. Aniba, Ma. Genevieve R. Cosenas and Epifanio Gultia, Jr. of BFAR-Bohol; the Provincial Manager of PCA-Bohol, Emiliano M. Romero together with Senior Agriculturist Primo T. Galendez and Coconut Development Officer, Ma. Cindy G. Escabillas; from NIA-Region 7, Engineer Beverly Joy Q. Pocot and Engineering Assistant, Romel Sarigumba; Planning Officer I of DA-RFO 7, Mildred Montecillo; PAGASA-Dauis Station Officer-in-Charge, Leonardo F. Samar; Engineer Angelus L. Sales of the Provincial Planning and Development Office-Bohol with Head, Research and Planning Division, Glaiza N. Melecio of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office-Bohol and ATI7 personnel spearheaded by Climate Change Focal Person, Joemelyn S. Allianic together Dr. Gracia S. Arado, Training Center Superintendent I; Senior Agriculturist/Planning Officer, Lydia B. Borbano; GAD Focal Person/Media Production Specialist II, Ma. Gracia Soliva-Pungay; Budget Officer, Lourdino B. Sale and Media Production Specialist II, Merrian Piquero Soliva, PhD.