REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER IV-B (MIMAROPA)

Mr. Pat B. Barrientos
OIC – Center Director

Barcenaga, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro

Telefax: (043) 447-0481
Telephone No. (043) 706-0096
E-mail adress: atibarcenaga@yahoo.com
Website: www.ati.da.gov.ph/mimaropa

When the Department of Agriculture (DA) was reorganized in January 1987 under the Executive Order No. 116, the Bureau of Agricultural Extension (BAEx), the Philippine Agricultural Training Council (PATC) and the Philippine Training Centers for Rural Development (PTC-RD) merged, and paved the way for the establishment of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).

The ATI started with 10 training centers from the former PTC-RD when it became operational in 1987. A year after, the number of training centers nationwide rose to 26 when nine Regional Training Centers (RTC) and seven Farmers’ Training Centers (FTC) were set up.

In 1989, there was a total of 41 training centers nationwide after seven FTCs, seven Regional Fishermen’s Training Centers (RFTC) and the International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ITCPH) were installed.

ATI’s role as the DA’s extension and training arm was strengthened with the Republic Act 8435 or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997. But in November 1998, the RFTCs were turned over to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Also, the FTCs were renamed Provincial Training Centers.

To date, we have an existing 16 Regional Training Centers all over the country and one International Training Center on Pig Husbandry.

Republic Act 8435 (Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997) mandated the ATI to:

1. lead in the formulation of the national Agriculture and Fisheries Extension (AFE) agenda and budget;
2. prepare an integrated plan for publicly-funded training programs in agriculture and fisheries;
3. advise the Department of Agriculture in managing financial and logistical support for AFE;
4. formulate and issue guidelines in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating AFE programs; and
5. assist the local government units extension system by improving their effectiveness and efficiency through capability building and complementary extension activities such as technical assistance, training of personnel, improvement of physical facilities, extension cum research and information support services in coordination with state universities and colleges.

Executive Order Number 116 mandated the Institute to:

1. train agricultural extension workers and their clientele;
2. conduct multi-level training programs to promote and accelerate rural development; and
3. ensure that research results are communicated to the farmers through appropriate training and extension activities.

Department Order no. 3, series of 2007, mandated the Institute to lead in the provision of e-Extension services in collaboration with the various agencies, bureaus and organizational units of the Philippine Department of Agriculture. This is to integrate and harmonize ICT-based extension delivery system for agriculture and fisheries.