Acting Asst. Center Director Gerry R. Pagarigan,DVM, gave his welcome address during the opening program. Furthermore, Mr. Nino Codino, ATI-RTC IX Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund(RCEF) Point Person, and Mr. Kennmark Tiad, ATI-RTC IX Technical Staff for RCEF, facilitated the conduct of assessment activity.

Attending the FGD are two cooperatives from Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay namely, Baclay Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BMPC) and Batu Farmer’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BAFAMCO).

Gracing also in the group discussion are from government partner agencies namely, Department of Agriculture-Central Office (DA-CO), Agricultural Training Institute-Central Office (ATI-CO), Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office IX (DA-RFO IX) Landbank of the Philippines (LBP), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).

Participants are actively participating the group discussion, sharing ideas, and ellaborating suggestions and recommendations for the betterment of the Rice Industry in Zamboanga Peninsula.
(ATI in Zamboanga Peninsula, FB)