400 farmers graduate from University-on-the-Air in Eastern Visayas Published on Tuesday, 18 June 2013 19:21 Written by Marvyn N.

Benaning Four hundred farmers in Eastern Visayas have won for themselves diplomas from the University-on-the-Air (UOA) training program devised by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (Philmech). Certificates were distributed to farmers who passed the course recently. Philmech, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said the aim of the UOA is to provide training to farmers over a wider area using radio as a medium. We plan to hold more UOAs in cooperation with regional offices to train more farmers on rice postharvest and mechanization, said Philmech Executive Director Rex L. Bingabing. The agency said it is now coordinating with Regions 9 and 12 to craft a UOA for farmers in the two regions. A total of 100 UOA graduates came from Samar, while 300 hailed from Leyte. About 600 farmers enrolled in the UOA in Region 8 that started in April and ended in May. Philmech said 200 of them were not able to take the examinations and attend the graduation rites.

Bingabing said with 600 enrolling in the UOA for Region 8, it is clear that many farmers are eager to learn about postharvest management and mechanization of rice farming. Under the UOA, farmers enroll at the DA regional field unit (RFU) offices and are required to listen for one hour per day, six days a week to a lecturer over a designated radio station. The training lasts for two months. An examination is then given to the farmer-trainees to determine who makes the grade and who should attend the graduation rites. The examination is administered to determine who among the enrollees really learned rice postharvest and mechanization by listening to the designated radio stations for lectures, said Bingabing. Aside from Region 8, UOAs have been held in the provinces of Pampanga, Pangasinan, Kalinga, Iloilo, Davao, Mindoro and Leyte, and in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) and Region 5 (Bicol region). The top five graduates of the UOA of DA-RFU8 were Felipe L. Agero of Barangay 89, San Jose, Tacloban City with a grade of 93.87; Ma. Isabel G. Dondoyano of Barangay Pagsulhugon, Babatngon, 89.53; Nemesio N. Legata Jr. of Barangay Dita, Julita, 87.73; Florencio M. Tobias of Barangay Tabuanon, Burauen, 87.67; and Victoriano C. Agujero of Barangay Candahug, Palo, 86.6.