OIC-Director Luz Taposok and Deputy Director Alfredo Aton, together with the Institute’s division chiefs and training center superintendents, unveil ATI’s three new publications. (Photo by Daniel Nilo)
DILIMAN, Quezon City –Enjoining representatives from its network of training centers and its central office, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) conducted its Midyear Performance Review and Planning Workshop to evaluate first semester accomplishments and realign plans for the second half of the year.
The workshop served as a venue for the reporting of updates about the implementation of the agency’s programs, activities, and services. Discussed as well were the agency’s new thrusts and directions as reported by OIC-Director Luz Taposok where she prodded the agency to continue to push for development in extension services through a holistic approach, “If we advance the farm, we should also advance the home and the entire family.”
The workshop was instrumental for the improvement of the ATI training centers’ work plans for the latter half of 2017. Additionally, it paved the way for the directorate and training center officials to discuss concerns, reminders, and agreements to improve their services to the stakeholders. Part of the agreement is to strengthen linkage with research and development agencies and institutions, which the training center officials think will help address the overlapping functions between these offices and ATI.
The group also discussed updates on its extension support program for to 22 poor provinces in the country. To expand the scope of the program, the ATI is looking into accommodating proposal-based projects from regions not included in the identified provinces, particularly those with 4th to 6th class municipalities.
Reports on the updated cost standards, the Harmonized Merit and Rewards System for Extension Workers, and the ATI Scorecard were also presented.
Also highlighting the activity was the launch of the ATI’s three new publications which ranged from promotional materials to technical documents. These are the Learning Site Photobooks for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the Grant System Manual for Agriculture and Fisheries Extension; and a Compendium on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies and Practices in Central Luzon.
The two-day workshop was held on August 2-3, 2017 at Serrano Hall, ATI building. Attendees included chiefs, planning officers, monitoring and evaluation officers of the ATI training centers, as well as the directorate, division chiefs, section chiefs, and selected staff from the Central Office.