A total of 729 coconut farmers in the Calabarzon region were able to receive training on how to improve their sector, thanks to the “School-on-the-Air” program of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
These farmers convened at the San Pablo Multipurpose and Convention Center last October 4 to receive their completion certificates from the DA’s Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) Calabarzon office.
Dubbed as “Masaganang Coco-buhayan: Radyo Eskwela sa Pagniniyugan,” the “School-on-the-Air” program aims to train participants on effective and efficient coconut farming strategies and ultimately strengthen the coconut industry in the region.
“ Talaga pong punong-puno ng karunungan ang aming kaisipan at talaga pong ito’y aming pagyayamanin at amin pong ibabahagi pa sa aming mga kasamahan. Ang hiling ko lang po marami pa po tayong maturuan ng tamang pagtatanim, lalo na po ang mga kabataan na susunod sa amin,” Carlito Enriquez Jr., a graduate from Agoncillo, Batangas, said during the event.
The program was made through the support of 11 local government units (LGUs) across the region, including Magallanes, Cavite; Agoncillo, Batangas; Tanay, Rizal; Luisiana, Magdalena, and San Pablo City in Laguna; and Atimonan, Mulanay, Padre Burgos, General Nakar, and Real in Quezon.
From June 19 to August 23, the “School-on-the-Air” program was aired at select radio stations in Calabarzon region, as well as on the YouTube channel and Facebook page of DA-ATI CALABARZON.
The 20 episodes were delivered by radio teachers from a pool of coconut specialists and subject matter specialists from various attached agencies and bureaus under DA, particularly the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) IV-A.
(OpinYon News Team/With report from DA Calabarzon)
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