CEBU CITY. The Department of Labor and Employment - National Reintegration Center for Overseas Filipino Workers (DOLE - NRCO) – Region VII in partnership with the Agricultural Training Institute Region VII conducted a two-day Byaheng Agripreneur at Cebu City Resource Management and Development Center (CREMDEC) Taptap, this city on November 28-29, 2017.

Byaheng Agripreneur is one of NRCO’s programs which provide a learning journey for OFW agri-business enthusiasts. Mandated to develop, promote and implement a national agenda on sustainable return and reintegration of returning OFWs and their families, NRCO aims to provide them with the necessary reintegration assistance that is anchored on the concept of full utilization of the migrants’ capacities and resources coupled with strategies for enhancing reintegration preparedness among returning migrants. Thus, the conduct of Byaheng Agripreneur to 26OFWs returnees and their families from the province of Cebu in collaboration with ATI-7.

The event was facilitated by Mr. Dexter F. Paro, Regional Coordinator of NRCO-7, while ATI-7 representative Doris Isabel J. Racho, Information Officer II assisted and discussed ATI programs and services and provided participants with ATI technology guides and briefers.

During the activity, Cebu City Agriculture Office Staff provided lecture-discussion and forum on organic swine and poultry raising, vegetable production, cutflower production with emphasis on roses and mums, and mango production. The activity also provided exposure visits, experiential learning and skills enhancement activity specifically in agricultural business. It allowed participants to acquire first-hand information in handling agribusiness, its current trends and issues, experienced one-on-one interaction with successful agri-business owners and developed a deeper sense of personal awareness of their capacity to own an agribusiness.

Sites visited were Tom’s Garden, Taptap, Cebu City - an integrated climate change resilient agricultural production technologies in micro model; Satuhan Farmers Association Lettuce Farm, Sudlon, Cebu City for production of lettuce on the rocks; and Cutflower Production in Sirao, Cebu City for variety of imported and local mum, gerbera and rose production.

Mr. Randy Enriquez from Liloan, Cebu City, a former seafarer, said he was thankful for the event as it gave him idea in augmenting his income now that he is retired. Currently, he is into coconut farming and was looking for other agriculture products that can be produced to increase income. The event answered it, he said.