511 Agusan del Sur Coconut Farmers Graduate From ATI School-On-The-Air Program

Patin-Ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur — A total of 511 coconut farmers completed the “Lubi, Kahoy sa Kinabuhi” School-on-the-Air (SOA) on Coconut Production, marking a major milestone in the province’s continuing effort to strengthen coconut farming through accessible distance learning.

The SOA Mass Graduation was held yesterday November 5, 2026 at the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur (PGAS) Covered Court in Patin-ay, Prosperidad. It was attended by coconut farmer graduates and their respective SOA coordinators. The program was a 16-week radio course that ran from June to October 2026. It was aired through DXGP 89.7 FM Agusan Radio and hosted by Joel B. Corvera, the province’s SOA Coordinator.

Weekly lessons were provided by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and delivered through the SOA platform, which brings agricultural technologies and practical production knowledge directly to farmers, especially those in remote communities. The graduates came from the municipalities of Bunawan, Esperanza, La Paz, Loreto, Prosperidad, Rosario, San Francisco, San Luis, Santa Josefa, Sibagat, Talacogon, Trento, and Veruela, as well as Bayugan City.

The SOA forms part of efforts under the Coconut Farmers’ and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), which seeks to raise the income and productivity of coconut farmers, promote poverty alleviation, education, and social equity, and rehabilitate and modernize the Philippine coconut industry.

“Una sa tanan, among mainiton nga pag-abi abi sa atong mga bisita, on behalf sa atong Provincial Governor Honorable Santiago B. Cane Jr. Sa pagkakaron, puno na kamo ug kaalam pinaaagi sa lubi. Ug tungod sa inyong kaalam ug kakugi, na-inspire ako nga mubarog dere karon aron sa pag-welcome ninyo. Congratulations sa inyong tanan, naa na moy tinuod nga kaalam, ug ako sad kamong gi-awhag, nga untana kung unsay inyong natun-an, tumanon jud ninyo. Ayaw kamo kahadlok ug pagsulay sa mga bag-ong teknolohiya nga inyong natun-an. Kay diha, hinay hinay magsugod ang inyong production, pinaagi sa pagsalig sa inyong natun-an. Ang lubi, mao ang kahoy sa kinabuhi, apan ang inyong kaalam maoy yawi sa kalamboan”, Engineer IV and AED Chief Danny I. Simbre said in his Welcome Remarks.

Initiated by the Agricultural Training Institute–Regional Training Center XIII (ATI-RTC XIII), the SOA on Coconut Production was implemented in partnership with the Provincial, Municipal, and City Agriculture Offices of Agusan del Sur and PCA-Caraga. Invited guests during the SOA Mass Graduation included Engineer IV and AED Chief Danny I. Simbre, PCA-Caraga Regional Manager Dr. Ruben T. Tacadao, PCA-Agusan del Sur Division Chief Manolito Casapao, Provincial Governor’s Office Executive Assistant IV Ram Christo L. Billedo, and Engr. Salvador H. Openiano Jr. of the Department of Agriculture–Caraga, attending on behalf of Regional Executive Director Engr. Ricardo M. Oñate Jr.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture continues to promote the utilization and health benefits of coconut, aiming to increase the production of quality coconut products and by-products for human consumption and industrial use. These efforts also seek to empower farmers, raise their incomes, and improve their quality of life.

As the training arm of the Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural Training Institute implements extension activities designed to increase coconut production, meet growing demand, and help reduce importation, particularly in the Caraga Region.

“Kami sa ATI-Caraga nagpasalamat sa inyo, sa inyong pagkugi ug inyong paglahutay sa 16-weeks or four months nga pagpaminaw sa radyo every Thursday from 10:00AM to 11:00AM sa DXGP Agusan Radio. Dili lalim ang 16 weeks kay usahay malimtan na nato, pero kabalo ko nga kugi mo mu-take notes ug kugi sad mo mu-participate sa group chat ug Facebook live. Daghang salamat kaayo sa paglahutay, pagkat-on, ug pag-participate sa maong programa. Nganong naay School-on-the-Air Program? Kay nakita sa gobyerno nga lisod ibansay or i-train ang mga farmers nga isa isa or face to face. So pinaaagi sa SOA, isa ka estorya pinaagi sa radyo, daghan na dayon ang maka-dungog ug effective pa gihapon karon ang radio ug pinaagi sad sa Facebook. Ug pinaagi niini, kamo makakat-on ug daghan, mutaas inyong kita tungod sa modernong pamaagi sa pagpanguma, ug inyo kining ma-apply sa inyong umahan”, said OIC-Assistant Center Director Jason Paul Dads E. Jampac, speaking on behalf of Center Director Noemi Beth G. Macario.

Recognizing farmers’ attitudes toward innovation, the SOA Program was designed to make agricultural information both educational and engaging. Radio remains one of the most powerful and affordable media for reaching large audiences, including farmers in far-flung and isolated areas.

The SOA on Coconut Production aims to intensify the promotion of coconut production in Agusan del Sur, helping expand access to modern coconut-farming knowledge across the region.

511 Agusan del Sur coconut farmers graduate from ATI’s School-on-the-Air Program
Patin-Ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur — A total of 511 coconut farmers completed the “Lubi, Kahoy sa Kinabuhi” School-on-the-Air (SOA) on Coconut Production, marking a major milestone in the province’s continuing effort to strengthen coconut farming through accessible distance learning.
The SOA Mass Graduation was held yesterday November 5, 2026 at the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur (PGAS) Covered Court in Patin-ay, Prosperidad. It was attended by coconut farmer graduates and their respective SOA coordinators. The program was a 16-week radio course that ran from June to October 2026. It was aired through DXGP 89.7 FM Agusan Radio and hosted by Joel B. Corvera, the province’s SOA Coordinator.
Weekly lessons were provided by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and delivered through the SOA platform, which brings agricultural technologies and practical production knowledge directly to farmers, especially those in remote communities. The graduates came from the municipalities of Bunawan, Esperanza, La Paz, Loreto, Prosperidad, Rosario, San Francisco, San Luis, Santa Josefa, Sibagat, Talacogon, Trento, and Veruela, as well as Bayugan City.
The SOA forms part of efforts under the Coconut Farmers’ and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), which seeks to raise the income and productivity of coconut farmers, promote poverty alleviation, education, and social equity, and rehabilitate and modernize the Philippine coconut industry.
“Una sa tanan, among mainiton nga pag-abi abi sa atong mga bisita, on behalf sa atong Provincial Governor Honorable Santiago B. Cane Jr. Sa pagkakaron, puno na kamo ug kaalam pinaaagi sa lubi. Ug tungod sa inyong kaalam ug kakugi, na-inspire ako nga mubarog dere karon aron sa pag-welcome ninyo. Congratulations sa inyong tanan, naa na moy tinuod nga kaalam, ug ako sad kamong gi-awhag, nga untana kung unsay inyong natun-an, tumanon jud ninyo. Ayaw kamo kahadlok ug pagsulay sa mga bag-ong teknolohiya nga inyong natun-an. Kay diha, hinay hinay magsugod ang inyong production, pinaagi sa pagsalig sa inyong natun-an. Ang lubi, mao ang kahoy sa kinabuhi, apan ang inyong kaalam maoy yawi sa kalamboan”, Engineer IV and AED Chief Danny I. Simbre said in his Welcome Remarks.
Initiated by the Agricultural Training Institute–Regional Training Center XIII (ATI-RTC XIII), the SOA on Coconut Production was implemented in partnership with the Provincial, Municipal, and City Agriculture Offices of Agusan del Sur and PCA-Caraga. Invited guests during the SOA Mass Graduation included Engineer IV and AED Chief Danny I. Simbre, PCA-Caraga Regional Manager Dr. Ruben T. Tacadao, PCA-Agusan del Sur Division Chief Manolito Casapao, Provincial Governor’s Office Executive Assistant IV Ram Christo L. Billedo, and Engr. Salvador H. Openiano Jr. of the Department of Agriculture–Caraga, attending on behalf of Regional Executive Director Engr. Ricardo M. Oñate Jr.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture continues to promote the utilization and health benefits of coconut, aiming to increase the production of quality coconut products and by-products for human consumption and industrial use. These efforts also seek to empower farmers, raise their incomes, and improve their quality of life.
As the training arm of the Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural Training Institute implements extension activities designed to increase coconut production, meet growing demand, and help reduce importation, particularly in the Caraga Region.
“Kami sa ATI-Caraga nagpasalamat sa inyo, sa inyong pagkugi ug inyong paglahutay sa 16-weeks or four months nga pagpaminaw sa radyo every Thursday from 10:00AM to 11:00AM sa DXGP Agusan Radio. Dili lalim ang 16 weeks kay usahay malimtan na nato, pero kabalo ko nga kugi mo mu-take notes ug kugi sad mo mu-participate sa group chat ug Facebook live. Daghang salamat kaayo sa paglahutay, pagkat-on, ug pag-participate sa maong programa. Nganong naay School-on-the-Air Program? Kay nakita sa gobyerno nga lisod ibansay or i-train ang mga farmers nga isa isa or face to face. So pinaaagi sa SOA, isa ka estorya pinaagi sa radyo, daghan na dayon ang maka-dungog ug effective pa gihapon karon ang radio ug pinaagi sad sa Facebook. Ug pinaagi niini, kamo makakat-on ug daghan, mutaas inyong kita tungod sa modernong pamaagi sa pagpanguma, ug inyo kining ma-apply sa inyong umahan”, said OIC-Assistant Center Director Jason Paul Dads E. Jampac, speaking on behalf of Center Director Noemi Beth G. Macario.
Recognizing farmers’ attitudes toward innovation, the SOA Program was designed to make agricultural information both educational and engaging. Radio remains one of the most powerful and affordable media for reaching large audiences, including farmers in far-flung and isolated areas.
The SOA on Coconut Production aims to intensify the promotion of coconut production in Agusan del Sur, helping expand access to modern coconut-farming knowledge across the region.