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

NEWS STORIES

Region II SOA breaks all-time record of graduates
by Aeron P. Bermudez (December 8, 2011)
A total of 1,200 farmers in Region II successfully completed a month-long "Sagip Ani Radyo Eskwela". These farmers attended the School-on-the-Air graduation ceremony in Cauyan City, Isabela last November 23.


This year's SOA on new postharvest technologies holds the record of the highest number of farmer-graduates in all PHilMech-conducted SOA for years.




Engr. Raul R. Paz, director for Extension Support, Education and Training Services (ESETS Cluster) said: "Kami po ay nagagalak dahil sa lahat ng SOA na ginanap namin sa buong bansa, dito sa Region II ang may pinaka malaking bilang ng mga magsasakang nakilahok. Ito rin po ang unang beses namin sa history ng PHilMech-SOA na magkaroon ng ganito karaming enrollees (We are glad because among all the SOA that we have conducted around the country, Region II has the highest number of farmer-participants. This is also the first time in the history of PhilMech-SOA to have this huge number of enrollees.)"




In his message, Engr. Paz also urged the graduates to use and extend the knowledge they've gained in the SOA to their fellow farmers in their community.




Meanwhile, DA-Region 2 Executive Director Lucrecio R. Alviar Jr., stressed the significant role of the provincial agriculturists, municipal agriculturists, agricultural technicians and their staff in the success of the SOA.




"Nagpapasalamat kami sa inyong dedikasyon at paggabay sa ating mga enrollees. Isa po kayo sa rason sa tagumpay ng ating programa (We’re very grateful for your dedication and guidance you’ve extend to our enrollees. You are one of the reasons for the success of this activity)," he added.




The Sagip Ani Radyo Eskwela is a collaborative project of PHilMech and DA-RFO 2. The SOA started on November 10, 2011 and aired through stations DWPE, DWDY, HOT FM, DWSI and UFM. Its last airing was on November 16, 2011.




The top 10 graduates of the SOA were Cecilio Nunez, Pepe Martinez and Josefina Talang of Cagayan; Felino Mateo, Marlon Edralin and Francisco Cacal of Isabela; Derwin Agbayani and Carlos Estevan of Nueva Vizcaya and Edgardo Garcia and Joy Evallo of Quirino. They received certificates, medals and transistor radios. Meanwhile, the SOA participants who attended the event received certificate of completion and token.




Mr. Edito Bañares, chief of the Agricultural Communication Section, DA-RFO 2 and Engr. Paz of PHilMech presented and confirmed the graduates, respectively.