Unifying the work plans and budgets for CY 2025 with the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center I (ATI-RTC), heads of the various operating units of the Department of Agriculture in Ilocos met for a one-day planning workshop at ATI-RTC Conference Room on February 12, 2025.

Aimed at unifying the planned extension programs, projects and activities for both agencies towards realizing a more impactful delivery of extension services in the region, the planning workshop provided an avenue to develop extension projects and activities that both the agencies and other stakeholders and partners could work on to achieve the desired outcomes.

Ms. Doris Joy Garcia, Chief of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED) of DA in Ilocos noted the importance of resource sharing and complementation in the extension activities of both agencies which are in line with the food sufficiency goals and objectives of the DA.

“We can share our resources, so that we can do more for the Bagong Pilipinas,” Ms. Garcia said.

Dr. Jayvee Bryan Carillo, OIC of the ATI-RTC shared the same insights noting that the year 2025 is expected to be the year of tangible results as anchored to the directives of DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel.

With the limited resources on budget and manpower for both agencies, Dr. Carillo called on the need for complementation as needs of the farmers are unlimited.

Meanwhile, to determine the activities that needed complementation and collaboration, each of the representative of sub-sectors on rice, corn, high value crops, livestock, special projects, institutional and information presented their planned programs and budgets which were reviewed by the panel of critiques composed of Dr. Carillo, Ms. Garcia, ATI-RTC’s Assistant Director, Ms. Jo Aben, Field Operations Division Chief, Ms. Analiza Rosario, Integrated Laboratories Division Chief, Dr. Constancia Diaz and Agribusiness and Marketing Division OIC-Chief, Ms. Rhoda Galban.