DILIMAN, Quezon City—Rural-based organizations (RBOs) are proactive partners of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in uplifting lives, especially in the grassroots level.

To further shape this role, 4-H Club and RBO focal persons, together with selected RBO national officers, of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) drew up programs and projects for 2019. These include the capacity-enhancement for various RBOs, a farm family congress, and youth agri-skills development programs, among others.

The participants likewise revisited the policies and guidelines for RBO programs. This was part of a planning workshop spearheaded by the ATI Partnerships and Accreditation Division.

In his inspirational message, ATI Director Alfredo Aton emphasized that the RBOs and the ATI should continue to strengthen their efforts in linking the government and the grassroots. He requested the RBOs to help mobilize communities and connect them to different government projects.

Lectures on the procedures of organization registration and organizational bank processes were undertaken. Mary Grace Terrado of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Aurora Halcon of the Department of Labor and Employment, and Mellany Mindanao from the Land Bank of the Philippines served as resource speakers.

The 4-H and RBO Planning Workshop for 2019 was held last February 11-13, 2019 at the ATI Rural Development Education Center (RDEC) in this city.