QUEZON CITY, Philippines – To revitalize and sustain the pivotal role of Rural Based Organizations (RBO) as strong partners in the advancement of agriculture sector amidst the “new normal” circumstances, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) spearheaded a virtual meeting on Revitalizing Support to RBO.
The twin goals of the meeting include: updating the RBO’s about existing programs and interventions of Department of Agriculture (DA) and ATI amidst new normal; and planning and consultation on the direction of their organizations for the upcoming year 2021.
Conducted last September 9, 2020 through Google Meet, the activity was attended by National Presidents and Vice Presidents of various organizations such as the Pambansang Mannnalon-Mag-uuma-Magbabaul- Magsasaka ng Pilipinas (P4MP), Rural Improvement Clubs (RIC), 4-H Club of the Philippines, Magsasaka Siyentista (MS), 4-H Volunteer Leaders Association of the Philippines (4-H VLAP), International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE), Japan Agricultural Exchange Council Alumni Association (JAECAAP), and League of the Municipal and City Agriculturist of the Philippines (LEMCAP).
Engr. Renato B. Dela Cruz, chief of Partnerships and Accreditation Division (PAD), emphasized during the meeting that ATI, especially its Alliance Building and Grants Management Section (ABGMS) of PAD, will firmly support the RBOs’ plans and activities for the forthcoming year. He also assured that their plans will be the primary basis of ATI in crafting programs in the coming year that will create and offer opportunities and significant contribution in agriculture development in the countryside.
During the virtual meeting, attendees agreed: that the Young Filipino Farmer Leaders Training Program in Japan (YFFLTPJ) Batch 2020 who were not able to continue their 11-month training in Japan this year will be the participants who will be sent on 2021; virtual meetings are encouraged for each organization, like in conducting election new set of officers, among others; LEMMCAP to invite other organizations like 4H, VLAP and RIC on their next National Congress; since LEMMCAP, PAVAP and FHEXAP are considered as professional groups and non-rural based organizations, starting next year, ATI’s Career Development and Management Division will handle these organizations in lieu with ATI-PAD; to provide each RBO with a copy of Administrative Order 17 S. 2019 as their guiding document in conducting activities and programs in their organization; and to consider including RBOs’ plans and programs to ATI’s FY 2021 funding.