ATI draws up dev’t plan for 2024-2026

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija—The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) is developing a three-year plan that will guide operating units in delivering services to extension clients, following the strategic policies of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The ATI’s development plan for 2024 to 2026 will include programs, projects, and activities geared towards food security, sufficiency, affordability, and a fortified agricultural value chain.

The plan comes from the proposals from the central office and 16 training centers nationwide, all of which were represented during a workshop led by the Policy and Planning Division (PPD) last June 19 to 22, 2023, at the Philippine Carabao Center in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

ATI Central Luzon Center Director Regional Training Center Director Joey Belarmino welcomed the workshop participants. He provided an overview of the region’s landscape, as well as the ongoing partnerships of their center to support the development of the local agriculture sector.

Meanwhile, in her message, ATI Director Remelyn Recoter underscored the need to maintain the relevance of the Institute by coming up with innovative ways and extension modalities that will cater to modern times.

She also talked about how important it is for the ATI’s training centers to know the profile of their respective areas of responsibility so that they can respond to the needs of their clients.

“We would like our clients to be updated on any recent developments in technologies because our goal is to enhance their productivity and profitability,” she said.

Other priority areas that she mentioned include enhancing the competencies of extension workers and other human resources, standardizing guidelines on Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSAs) and Private Extension Service Providers (ESPs), and strengthening

President and Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban will lead the event kickoff.

Experts from the government and the private sectors will present the latest market trends, news, research, and other developments in the Philippine livestock, poultry, and aquaculture subsectors through various conferences, technical seminars, and other on-site activities.

This year’s roster of exhibitors includes the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), the National Dairy Authority (NDA), the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), the International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ITCPH), the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries

(PCAF), the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS), and BFAR.

Joining them are the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines, the DA’s partners in providing credit support to farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural cooperatives and associations, at the DA Pavilion.

Another highlight of the threeday event would be the Livestock Philippines Recognition 2023, which honors companies, institutions, organizations, and cooperatives for their invaluable contribution to developing the Philippine livestock, poultry, and feed industries.

Also present during the press conference were NLP Director Ruth S. Miclat-Sonaco, BAI Assistant Director Arlene A. Vytiaco, NMIS Director Clarita M. Sangcal, NDA Administrator Gabriel L. Lagamayo, BAFS Director Karen Kristine A. Roscom, DA Technical Assistant and PCAF National Sectoral Committee on Poultry and Livestock Focal Person Norberto A. Nival, and PCC Animal Genetic Resources Head and Animal Breeding and Genomics Section Supervisor Ester B. Flores. (Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara, DA-AFID) partnerships with other institutions to provide innovative extension modalities.

Assistant Director Antonieta Arceo also spoke with the workshop participants and highlighted the importance of innovation. She also urged the attendees to tap more LSAs and ESPs to conduct training and other related programs at the community level.

Recoter and Arceo also provided inputs on the proposed three-year development plans of the divisions and units at the ATI central office and the 16 training centers.

Before reviewing the proposed development plans, PPD-National Extension System Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Section chief Gay Ritchel Dianala presented the Draft ATI Corporate Plan for 2023-2028. The plan outlines the strategies of the Institute under its new key result areas as capacity-builder, knowledge bank, and catalyst of agriculture and fisheries extension.

Likewise, PPD-Policy and Standards Development Section representative Roy Son

De La Cruz talked about the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System or PAFES. Budget Officer Leonila Caiz also discussed the 2024 Plans and Proposals of the ATI submitted