APARRI, Cagayan—Farmer-participants to SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program finished their season-long training with culminating activities held here.
In Aparri, 83 trainees received certificates in ceremonies attended by Wilson Quillopo, Barangay Captain of Caagaman West, Aparri; Ford Cortez, Teacher in Charge of Don Formoso Elementary School; Dennis Recheta, store manager of Savemore Aparri; Shiela Cudal, DSWD SLP; Cora Cabauatan, MSWD head; Marites Robinion, municipal agriculturist; and Councilor Ria Capiña of Aparri.
In nearby Lal-lo, 90 participants finished the rural farmers’ training program, comprising Batch 170. When the program was launched in Barangay Jurisdiction, however, 178 individuals composed of 4Ps/SLP beneficiaries, farmers and other individuals interested in farming attended the activity.
A reorganization of the DSWD and the participants’ difficulty to sustain their transportation and food expense resulted in the decrease in the number of the participants.
Project partners were Savemore Aparri, SM Center Tuguegarao, DSWD Region 2, Department of Agriculture, City Agriculture Office and the local government of Lal-lo.
Prior to the graduation ceremony, a Harvest Festival was held at the Demo Farm where participants proudly presented their produce to representatives of partner agencies.
Present were SM Foundation Inc. Outreach Programs AVP Cristie Angeles; BM Olive Pascual; Mayor Florante Pascual; DSWD Staff; Municipal Agriculturist Jimmy Bacuyog; SM Center Tuguegarao PR Gerina Rose Malubay; SM Center Tuguegarao Hypermarket Jasmine Roldan; and Savemore Aparri Store Manager Dennis Recheta.
The graduates were also given a seminar on financial literacy by Dennis Fullente, a representative of One Net Bank.
Rodalyn Matute of DSWD SLP PDO facilitated in teaching the participants how to make a Sustainability Plan which was presented during the Graduation Ceremony at the SM Center Tuguegarao Activity Center.
Other activities included cooking contest, a boodle fight, and a supermarket tour for the graduates.
The local government of Lal-lo awarded cash prizes to the best groups during the training.