Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

NEWS STORIES

IA members thankful for learnings gained from SOA
by KRCariaga and VBCaliguiran (July 6, 2009)
After two months of bringing school into their very own homes through the School-on-the-Air (SOA) on Postharvest Technologies, members of various Irrigators Associations of Pangasinan and Kalinga graduated from the SOA on May 25 and June 16, 2009, respectively.

"Agyamanak ta adda ti kastoy nga programa" (I am thankful because there is a program like this), Mr. Maximo Bautista, top student of SOA in Pangasinan said.

Mr. Lauriano B. Aglibot who has the highest percentage of knowledge gain also shared, "Nagdakkel ti naadal mi. Nagadu ti naamwan mi.Para iti nasayaat nga kalidad ken napintas nga presyo. Datayo ti agpakpakan kadagiti nababaknang" (We have learned so much.For good quality [of rice] and for a good market price. We [farmers] are the one providing food to the rich.)

On the other hand, Dir. Ricardo L. Cachuela, BPRE executive director congratulated the farmers for their active participation in the School-on-the-Air.

"Farming is not an ordinary job but rather it is a career that you must be proud of," Dir. Cachuela said.

Just like the graduates in Pangasinan, Kalinga farmers are also glad about the SOA.

Mrs. Rosalina Anung, one of the top SOA graduates in Kalinga told, "Naganas iti maki-participate iti SOA. Adu ti maadal uray nu adda ka laeng iti balay mo. Mabalin mo pay nga i-take note. Mabalin mo pay isuro iti kakadduam." (It`s very nice to participate in the SOA. We will learn a lot of things even by just staying at home. You can even take it down and share it to others.)

"Dakkel nga yaman kadatayo iti SOA. Adu ti baro a teknolohiya a naadal tayo babaen iti BPRE (SOA is such a great blessing to us. We have learned new technologies through the help of BPRE)," Mr. Roland Kimmayong also said.

Meanwhile, Kalinga Gov. Floydelia Diasen whom she calls herself a farmer at heart was also part of the occasion. "SOA is important and strategic. It`s one of the many good activities of DA," she said.

"There are many methodologies that we have to learn as times are changing. We may not be left behind but we still have to be updated with new technologies. Education should not stop," Governor Diasen added.

She also advised the farmers to mix a happy blend of old traditional technologies tested by time and the new technologies of today.

Provincial Agriculturist Gerardo Jose also told, "I hope that the good partnership between the government and our farmers in the implementation of agricultural projects in the province will continue."

Top graduates received medals, Rice Postharvest reference guide and Postharvest information kit. Other awardees received transistor radios, clocks and organic fertilizers.