For second year in a row, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, collaborates with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in conducting a two-part webinar for the Filipinos overseas.
Held on August 15, 2021, the first part of the webinar was entitled “Hanep Buhay sa Hanep Baboy Para sa Hanep na Pinoy”. It was a three-hour activity attended by 65 Zoom registered participants composed of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from different countries, and about 70 live viewers over Facebook.
In welcoming the participants, Labor Attaché of POLO-Japan Dr. Marie Rose C Escalada said that the webinar is part of the “Online Reintegration Preparedness Training Program” of their Office. She furthered that the aim of the webinar was for the overseas Filipinos to have a glimpse of business opportunities along the value chain of pig farming as well as the latest strategies in pig production.
Dr. Ruth Miclat-Sonaco, the Center Director of the ATI-International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ITCPH), said on her message that the webinar is a complementary activity to the Department of Agriculture’s program on Swine Rehabilitation and Repopulation. While she said that pig production requires high investment of time and money, Dr. Sonaco reminded all that “walang nalulugi sa taong sa kaalaman ay wagi.”
Ms. Amy Gonzales-Eguia, Chief of Training Services at the ATI-ITCPH served as the resource person for the webinar. She discussed the background of Philippine swine industry, market and investment opportunities, supply and demand, and different operations along the value chain. Additionally, a success story of Ms. Virginia Ronquillo, a former overseas Filipino worker, was featured during the webinar.
To conclude the webinar, Ms. Amy Crisostomo, Welfare Officer of POLO Japan, expressed appreciation to the participants, resource persons, the ATI, and the team behind the webinar. She emphasized that there are more trainings in store for the year that the overseas Filipinos should watch out for.
Meanwhile, Director Alfredo Aton of the ATI said in his closing remarks that he hopes the webinar has served as an inspiration to the participants. “Tunay nga na walang pinipiling edad, kasarian, o lokasyon ang pagnanais na matuto ng pagnenegosyo basta tayo ay maging mabusisi sa mga kaalaman.” Director Aton said as he encouraged the participants to learn more about agribusiness.
The second part of the POLO-ATI webinar, is set on September 12, 2021. It will feature fruit and vegetable processing. To learn more about it, visit the POLO-OWWA Facebook page.
The webinar was spearheaded by the Career Development and Management Division of ATI.