MANILA—The e-Learning for Agriculture and Fisheries program, which is managed by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), was awarded as finalist in the Government Best Practice Recognition (GBPR) program of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) for 2019.

The recognition highlights the program’s important role in enhancing access to agricultural knowledge in the Philippines, especially in this digital age. Information Services Division (ISD) chief Antonieta Arceo and Information Technology Officer Joeven Calasagsag received the award on behalf of the Institute.

The GBPR is an annual event that seeks to promote and showcase outstanding practices of public sector organizations. It also provides an opportunity for these organizations to share, learn, and build partnerships with other government organizations to reinforce the performance excellence movement in the public sector.

e-Learning is a major component of the Department of Agriculture’s e-Extension Program for Agriculture and Fisheries which offers free online courses and digital resources on crops, livestock, marine and fisheries, social technology, and sustainable agriculture. During the event, Arceo presented the program to a panel of judges as the Institute’s entry to the GBPR.

The presentation of the best practice entries and the awarding ceremony were held last December 16-17, 2019 at the Luneta Hotel in Manila. Representatives from national government agencies, executive offices, local government units, state universities and colleges, government-owned and -controlled corporations, and local water districts were present at this event.