Bontoc, Mountain Province – Amidst the current African Swine Fever problem being faced by many swine raisers in the country, 346 students of the School-on-the-Air (SOA) for Swine Production in Mountain Province received their certificates of completion during the graduation program held at the Multipurpose Building Conference Hall on September 19, 2019.
Per record of the Provincial Veterinary Office, the municipality of Bontoc has the highest number of enrollee-graduates which is 95. The other municipalities, however, showed much lesser numbers: Besao (51), Bauko (50), Sagada (50), Sadanga (50), and Sabangan (50).
According to the Agriculturist I Faith S. Pec-ao, the SOA on swine production was realized through the partnership of the Provincial Local Government of Unit (PLGU) of Mountain Province – Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) – CAR to improve the economic status of swine producers in the province through helpful information and technology.
The SOA on Swine Production ran from June 11 to August 15, 2019 with six participating municipalities: Bauko, Besao, Bontoc, Sabangan, Sadanga and Sagada (dubbed “Three Bs and Three Ss”) and has been aired from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. via Radyo ng Bayan 100.9 FM through its Radio Station Manager John T. Pelew and his co-anchors – PVO Veterinarian II Josephine Dao-an and Ms. Pec-ao.
“School on the Air on Swine Production (SOA) was a three month airing on how to raise pigs. Also, it was a very worthwhile accomplishment for the PLGU-PVO, partner LGUs and agencies,” Pec-ao said.
It can be recalled that the SOA was launched at the Provincial Plaza last June 4, 2019. The ATI-CAR Assistant Training Center Director Myrna B. Sta. Maria informed then that the SOA has been implemented by the Agricultural Training Institute since 2012-2013. But that the school-on-the-air on livestock was the very first course to be implemented through SOA.
At that time, there was also the ban on the importation of beef and pork; thus, necessitating the ATI’s advocacy on the proper breeding, care and health management of swine.
“The graduation of our people under the two-month school-on-the-air program is timely as we are now faced with this very challenging time when our countrymen now have to contend with the economic impact of the dreaded African Swine Fever (ASF). We hope that the lessons which our farmers have learned in the two-month SOA will be put into practice to help mitigate possible swine diseases,” Provincial Veterinarian Rodelio B. Bagawi said.
In her message, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) – CAR Training Center Director Arlene L. Flores also told the participants on the extreme need for caution so as not to spread any swine disease in the province, particularly the ASF. She encouraged them not to source out swine from outside the province.
Moreover, Provincial Administrator Amador P. Batay-an who spoke on behalf of Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. encouraged the graduates to continue availing of the services and programs of partner agencies like the DA-ATI. Furthermore, he appealed to the ATI officials to give priority to the graduates in future programs which could further help them in their livelihood.
A highlight of the graduation program was the awarding of certificates of recognition to high performers in the municipalities as well as in the provincial level.
Under the provincial level honors category, the first, second and third honors were selected among the best performers under the municipal level. Jeanilyn Langpawen of Bontoc (first honor), Kate Eulalie L. Rafael of Sabangan (second honor) and Myrna T. Kitongan of Sadanga (third honor), were the top provincial level performers.
Also, the top three performers were determined in each of the seven municipalities by the coordinators. The first honors were Sylvia Langcao (Bauko), Hermiginildo Santos (Besao), Jeanilyn Langpawen (Bontoc), Kate Eulalie Rafael (Sabangan), Mryrna Kitongan (Sadanga) and Thelna Baani (Sagada); Second honors went to Jennifer Mayam-es (Bauko), Rodora Aplosen (Besao), Eugenia Dodoy (Bontoc), Winnie Lawilao (Sabangan), Arlene Poc-oran (Sadanga) and Apollo Apil (Sagada); and the third honors were accorded to Eva Rachel Martinez (Bauko), Cynthia Lidab (Besao), Agustina Sokoken (Bontoc), Emilyn Palangeo (Sabangan), Nancy Watting (Sadanga) and Jenny Dawey (Sagada).
Prizes, feeds and piglets were also given to the top performers. The first honors were given a piglet, 50-kilogram (kg) grower feeds and a 25-kg starter feeds each. On the other hand, each of second placers were given a piglet, a 25-kg pre-starter feeds and 25-kg grower feeds while the third honors were given a piglet and a 25-kg pre-starter feeds each.
According to ATI-CAR Information Officer III Maximo Aromin, the awards and incentives were based on the actual performances of the enrollees: results of quizzes, completeness of notes, attendance in sessions, results of pre-test and post tests and the assessment of SOA coordinators.
Per testimonies of the honorees, they faced signal problems but according to them, such did not deter them from continuing with the two-month swine production air course.
“What we did was I went to get the lessons (episodes) from Ma’am Faith at the Provincial Veterinary Office, saved it in my flash drive and shared it with my classmates,” Sabangan top placer Kate Eulalie Rafael said.
Radios and flash drives were distributed to the SOA enrollees prior to the start of the program in June which was meant to enable enrollees to actively participate in the program.
Meanwhile, all LGUs, national line agencies and other stakeholders who actively participated and helped for the success of the program were also recognized during the culminating program.
In her closing message, Flores thanked the Provincial Government and the Provincial Veterinary Office for their continuing partnership and support in the implementation of the ATI programs. She also commended the municipal LGUs and the six participating municipalities dubbed “Three Bs and Three Ss,” for readily accepting and embracing the program.
To the graduates, she expressed high hopes that they will still attend future learning courses to earn their “Master’s Degree” after finishing their “BS” degree in swine production.** Novy R. Afidchao
