TESDA, DA, ATI ink MOA to benefit farmers, operators

Farmers, cooperatives, and other non-government organizations may now have their farm machinery operators undergo training and competency assessment and accreditation, while TESDA institutions may use Department of Agriculture (DA) facilities and equipment for training purposes.

This was through the initiative of TESDA-CAR, which resulted in a collaboration Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DA-Regional Field Office (RFO)-CAR and Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)-CAR signed on April 23, 2018.

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP. In a historic move, the leadership of TESDA-CAR signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Regional Field Office (RFO)-CAR and the DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)-CAR that will provide training and capability-building programs, facilitate accreditation and maximize resources of the agencies for identified programs. Regional Director Efren F. Piñol of TESDA-CAR, Regional Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo of DA-RFO-CAR, and Training Center Director Arlene L. Flores of ATI-CAR signed the document on April 23, 2018, with TESDA-CAR provincial directors and the agencies’ representatives as witnesses. //Bernice B. Lee

According to DA-RFO-CAR Regional Executive Director Narciso Edillo, the MOA will hasten and improve the delivery of the mandates of the three agencies.

“This collaboration is a good start and follows the thrust of the Duterte administration to maximize government resources and work together to fill the gaps for the farmers and their organizations,” said Dir. Edillo, citing the case of a multi-million facility in CAR that is not being utilized and maximized because of lacking skills in operation and maintenance.

Similarly, TESDA-CAR Regional Director Efren Piñol said that the MOA was the result of the initiative to work with other agencies and explore new ways of attaining goals.

“The MOA is a guiding document that aims to maximize the resources and the potential of the region and serve as an incentive that will directly benefit the farmers and end-users,” said RD Piñol.

Under the MOA, the three agencies will identify programs and share resources in implementating the programs. These include training programs, capability building programs, competency assessment and certification, curriculum enhancement, and program registration.

Accordingly, TESDA will issue National Certificates (NC) and facilitate the accreditation of assessors and assessment centers to the technical experts, farm machinery operators and other beneficiaries identified by the DA-RFO-CAR and ATI-CAR, while TESDA-CAR will benefit from the technical expertise, machineries and equipment of the other agencies for its training programs.

TESDA-CAR provincial directors and agency representatives witnessed the MOA signing at ATI-CAR, La Trinidad, Benguet.