1. Vol. IV No. 1 March 2011
DA, IRRI Launch NMRiceMobile
Make its Global Debut
Q
UEZON CITY, Philippines
-- The Nutrient Manager for
Rice Mobile or NMRiceMobile
which was launched in line with the
celebration on the 24th Anniversary
of the Department of Agriculture-
Agricultural Training Institute (DA-
ATI) will be the first of its kind in the
world. NMRiceMobile is an easy to
use mobile application that will greatly
benefit the Filipino farmers through
increased rice production and higher
profits.
NMRiceMobile carry out the
principle of site-specific nutrient
management (SSNM) for rice that was DA’s Usec Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (3rd from right) and Dr. Achim Dobermann (3rd from left) unveiled
developed by the International Rice the NMRiceMobile numbers, assisted by Mr. Mon Isberto, VP for Public Relations, PLDT-SMART, Ms.
Research Institute (IRRI) together Karen Eloisa Barroga of PhilRice, ATI Director Asterio P. Saliot and Mr. Jose Luis Reyes of Globe Telecoms
with Philippine Rice Research countries like the Philippines. This subscribers and *2378 for Smart
Institute (PhilRice) in mid 1990s. The will help the farmers and extension subscribers, an Interactive Voice
NMRiceMobile will be supported by workers quickly determine the best Response will accumulate information
an online decision-making tool called fertilizer management practice for a from the caller and then the software
Nutrient Manager for Rice which specific field or rice growing area. processes the information acquired
is aptly designed for rice growing By just dialing 2378 for Globe ►page 3
e-Extension Does FourPlay: Program Assessment and
Planning Workshop Held
Q
uezon City, Philippines -- It’s implementation.
been said -- success is a Three years removed from
process, wherein to be able the launching of the e-Learning
to achieve your desired objective component of the Program and a
or goal one has to take it step by year from the launching of Farmers’
step. The e-Extension Program for Contact Center, these components
Agriculture and Fisheries did not of the e-Extension Program are
achieve the proverbial overnight specifically designed to respond to the
success as setbacks and challenges demands of its clientele. These efforts
served as speed bumps. But along have not gone unnoticed as local and
the way, these speed bumps became international pundits have already
the source for experience and recognized the Program.
knowledge which have been used As the e-Extension Program e-Extension Coordinators discuss their respective
to further improve the Program’s ►page 2 WFPs as part of their outputs during the assessment
e-Extension Agenda March 201
1 1

2. NEWS
Aurora e-Village Rolls Out its Phase-2
Project Implementation
A
URORA, Philippines ― its services to the northern and
Alleviating lives of rural southern towns of the province
communities in the province such as Dilasag, Casiguran and
of Aurora through the use of Dinalungan. The second phase
information and communications took-off with an information-
technology (ICT) is the foremost goal dissemination campaign to create
for the establishment of the Aurora awareness and steer interest in the
e-Village Project last 2009. Thus, communities by means of an ICT
the successful implementation of its Road Show in the said towns last
Phase-1 in the central towns – Baler, March 1 to 3, 2011, respectively.
San Luis, Maria Aurora and Dipacualo The road show meant to impart Participants register before the start of the
– has proven that the project’s a comprehensive overview about ICT roadshow. They were also given free IEC
Materials.
objectives are perfectly attainable. the objectives and services of Government of Aurora (PGA) formally
As such, the project is now all set the e-Village Project to the locals. opened the e-Village Marketing Center
to expand its coverage and extend Furthermore, the e-Village services of of the Rice Processing Complex
the Agricultural Training Institute (RPC) in Baler last February 28, 2011.
(ATI) and the Philippine Rice This marketing center is among the
Research Institute (PhilRice) services of the project managed by
like the e-Village website and the Provincial Government of Aurora
the Aurora e-Village Text Center alongside the e-village Text Center.
as well as the e-Learning for The Aurora e-Village Project is
Agriculture and Fisheries and a joint endeavour of the Department
Farmers’ Contact Center, among of Agriculture (DA) - through ATI and
others were featured during the PhilRice, the Development Academy
activity. of the Philippines (DAP) and the PGA
In concurrence with the in cooperation with the Aurora State
The motorcade during the ICT roadshow ICT Road Show, the Provincial College of Technology (ASCOT).
(YCRAgsawa)
e-Extension Does FourPlay....
From page 1
continues its process towards its
goals, the Agricultural Training Institute
(ATI), as the lead implementing
agency, conducted its fourth
assessment and planning workshop.
Taking a look back in the past year
of implementing the e-Extension
Program is an important part of the
process as new things can be learned
as well as strategies that would be
beneficial for the Program.
Dubbed as the “e-Extension
FourPlay in 2011: Assessment and
The participants of the eExtension Program Assessment and Planning Workshop included the
Planning Workshop,” the activity e-Extension Coordinators and SOA Coordinators from ATI Network of Training Centers
gathered together the technical staff
of the ATI Network of Training Centers management and the system. These website, the newly launched
designated as the e-Extension four elements should have coordinated Nutrient Manager for Rice Mobile
Coordinators and School on the Air actions to achieve the objective or (or NMRiceMobile) and Information
Coordinators. a goal,” e-Learning Process Adviser Systems developed and maintained
“FourPlay emphasizes the Jose Rey Y. Alo explained. by the Institute. The coordinators also
synergism between the four elements Main points discussed were reported on their accomplishment
of e-Extension which are the clients, updates on the e-Learning and during the past year.
coordinators/developers, the e-Farming components as well as ►page 8
ATIiNteractive as the ATI’s official
2 e-Extension Agenda March 201
1

3. NEWS
Representatives of the different agencies and companies behind the NMRiceMobile during the launch of NMRiceMobile. Usec Bernadette Romulo-Puyat
and Dr. Achim Dobermann of IRRI is joined by Mr. Mon Isberto of PLDT-SMART, Mr. Jose Luis Reyes of Globe Telecoms Ms. Karen Eloisa Barroga of PhilRice
and ATI Director Asterio P. Saliot.
DA, IRRI Launch NMRiceMobile.... requires a lot of nutrients, some of the farmers.
From page 1 them come from nature and some of “The country boasts some of the
them have to come from fertilizers. world’s best rice scientists and most
and develops the text message that But here with NMRiceMobile, we have industrious farmers, aside from being
will be sent back to the caller. a new way in doing it much better. home to IRRI. But observations persist
In his message during the launch, The idea is to apply the right amount that we are slow in translating results
ATI Director Asterio P. Saliot ardently at the right time in the right way,” Dr. from research stations into practical
supported the project and believed Dobermann noted in his message technologies that could increase
that the NMRiceMobile will be a step during the launch. production in a sustainable way. The
toward the goal of the Philippines to Dr. Dobermann also saw the speed of dissemination itself is another
become a rice-sufficient country. potential of NMRiceMobile to reach concern,” Alcala noted.
“This is one of the endeavors the majority of farmers and benefit Alcala also stressed the
where we can help our farmers in from the feature of the project. “It’s a prospective of reaching the farmers
trying to improve their technologies in through their mobile phones. “In
growing rice. We welcome a country where mobile
this development at ATI phone access stood at
because this is part of a staggering 93%, the
our efforts in bringing NMRiceMobile presents an
technologies down to the immense potential to enhance, if
farmers and fishers,” Director Saliot true milestone in our effort to provide not revolutionize, the way we deliver
said. better services for the benefit of our technical support and education to our
The launch was attended by Dr. farmers. We’ve all learned how to clientele.”
Achim Dobermann, IRRI’s Deputy reach thousands of farmers but it’s With almost two million rice
Director-General for Research and always been a challenge to scale it farmers in the Philippines expected
was part of the research team that up,” Dr. Dobermann added. to avail the advantages of the
studied SSNM during its early stages While Agriculture Secretary NMRiceMobile, it is a positive move to
in 1992. Dr. Dobermann emphasized Proceso J. Alcala in his message as the goal of being a rice sufficient and
the importance of having the right kind read by Usec. Bernadette Romulo- food secured country.
of fertilizer for rice “at the right time Puyat, highlighted one of the major The launching of NMRiceMobile
and in the right way.” problems persisting the agricultural was held last January 24, 2011 at the
“The crops that we grow for our sector that NMRiceMobile could solve Serrano Hall, DA-ATI Bldg. Diliman,
own food consumption and for feeding – which is the transfer of knowledge to Quezon City. (BCNatividad)
e-Extension Agenda March 201
1 3

4. AT THE REGIONS
School on Air graduation in Camarines
Norte held
D
AET, Camarines Norte -- The as well as DWLB 89.7 FM in Labo. certificates to graduates and the Subject
ATI worked closely with the The SOA emphasized the importance Matter Specialists from the Department of
local government units (LGUs) of increasing farmers’ yield and income, Agriculture and the LGUs who served as
of Camarines Norte for the School on bringing to listeners the latest package of resource persons.
Air (SOA) on the PalayCheck Rice technology on the PalayCheck system Topics included the PalayCheck key
Production Technology. Dubbed as of rice production. It discussed simple checks, integrated pest management, and
ATIng Kaugnay SOA, it spanned six step-by-step application of the technology integrated nutrient management.
municipalities and one cropping season. through per-module presentation of Mass media plays a key role in
After five months of weekly radio topics to help farmers realize its income knowledge sharing. Particularly, radio
broadcasts, the SOA concluded with a potential. proves to be an effective and fast means
graduation ceremony held last March The weekly lecture-discussions were of spreading information to a wide scope
31, 2011 at the Little Theater, Provincial anchored by Cirlo Nuyles and Engr. Joey of audience in the countryside.
Capitol Building, Daet, Camarines Norte. Belarmino of ATI-RTC5. The SOA was The Department of Agriculture
Enrollees who passed the weekly fully interactive, being open to phone-in recognizes SOA’s importance as an
quizzes since November 2010 and the questions and text messages from the e-Extension component.(PBImperial, ATI-
final examination all came together for listeners. RTC 5)
their graduation to receive their well- Before the SOA enrollees’
earned certificates of completion. They final examination, a mobile forum
were from the municipalities of Basud, across the six municipalities
Daet, Talisay, Vinzons, Labo, and furthered the farmer-enrollees’
Paracale. participation, allowing them to voice
The Office of the Provincial their questions. Likewise, resource
Agriculturist as well as the LGUs of speakers discussed finer details of
these municipalities co-managed and their topics using visual aids. The
coordinated the activity in their respective forum bridged the gap in technology
areas. The SOA was aired at 10 to 11 transfer through face-to-face
every Friday mornings through three interaction.
commercial radio stations, the DZMD AM The SOA culminated with The 292 graduates of the ATIng Kaugnay SOA on
the PalayCheck Rice Production Technology in
1161 Khz and Radyo ng Bayan in Daet, the awarding of prizes as well as Camarines Norte.
BSU Embraces Change
L
obo, Batangas - Thirty one (31)
students from the Batangas State
University (BSU) Lobo Campus
received their e-Learning Certificates
on March 15, 2011 together with two
(2) Faculty and Staff namely Mars
Panganiban and Rowena Odoño.
The students are taking up Bachelor
of Science in Agriculture and BS
Forestry.
Some of them took up more
than one course and one student,
Mellanie Joy Magtibay even took up
six courses. She was very thankful
to ATI because she was able to
spend her spare time during the night
(after working on her assignments) Caringal promised to support the two ELO Coordinators, Rolando
to learn topics related to agriculture e-Extension Program of ATI. He Maningas and Mariel Dayanghirang
and fisheries rather than spending so requested for hands-on activities to spearheaded the awarding of the
much time to computer games and reinforce the learnings derived by the certificates. They also launched the
“Facebook”. students from the e-Learning courses. new on-line course developed by
The Dean and Assistant Director Mr. Cesar Vida, Center Director of ATI-Region IVA on Vanda Production.
of the University, Mr. Anacleto ATI-Region IVA together with the (RManingas, ATI-RTC 4A)
4 e-Extension Agenda March 201
1

5. AT THE REGIONS
TOT participants in Region 8 ICT Literacy
Training in Region
Briefed on e-Extension 7 reaps positive
T
he series of training of to present the e-Extension program
trainers (TOT) on AgriPinoy
framework became a venue for
components and services particulary
the e-Learning, Farmers’ Contact
result
the e-Extension coordinators (eEC) to Center and the NMRice Mobile. The TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol -- A
promote the e-Extension program of participants learned to access the on- total of 30 Agricultural Extension
the Department of Agriculture, which is line services and were encouraged to Workers (AEWs) composed of
being implemented by the Agricultural get information from the net. Agricultural Technicians and Municipal
Training Institute. Mr. Baltazar also shared updates Agriculture Officers from the selected
Not all training activities in the on the institutionalization of the municipalities of Bohol Province have
center would mean opportunity to Techno Gabay Program to ATI successfully graduated in the ICT
discuss the program. But with the starting this year. In Region VIII, the Training and Computer-based Data
time slot given to eEC Hazel Grace implementation of the program is Management conducted on February
T. Taganas to discuss one module in already coordinated by ATI since year 22 to 24, 2011 at ATI-RTC 7 Training
the training, came the opportunity for 2000. Complex and Bohol Online, Tagbilaran
fellow eEC Dennis Boyd R. Baltazar A total of 118 participants in the City.
three batches of the Ably facilitated by the Agricultural
TOT were briefed Knowledge Management Section team
on the e-Extension and well-supported by NMRice trained
program. This year, staff, the course aimed at enhancing
the coordinators capabilities and orientation in
hoped to conduct accessing and using web-technology
more briefings to to improve the delivery of agricultural
reach more clients extension services to the people from
for them to broaden all walks of life.
their access Some important topics given
to agricultural much emphasis were Open Academy
information for Philippine Agriculture (OPAPA),
(DBBaltazar, ATI- E-extension, Farmers Contact Center,
e-Extension Coordinator Dennis Boyd Baltazar briefs the TOT participants on RTC 8) NMRice and AEWs data base.
e-Extension Program specifically its components the e-Learning, Farmers’ (EFLucero, ATI-RTC 7)
Contact Center and NMRiceMobile.
Agriculture Students briefed on
e-Learning for A&F
A
round 80 agricultural students students to be more interested on DepEd representative during the
from the Bauan National agriculture and eventually pursue agri- AgriPinoy Training of Trainers (TOT)
Agricultural and Vocational related courses in college. for Batangas province last February.
High School (BNAVHS) attended the This project is made possible ELO coordinator Rolando Maningas of
e-Learning briefing conducted by the thru the coordination of BNAVHS ATI-Region IVA conducted the briefing.
Institute last March 17, 2011. The Agriculture teacher, Mr. Rodrigo (RManingas, ATI-RTC 4A)
activity aims to encourage these Bautista who happens to be the
e-Extension Agenda March 201
1 5

6. NEWS
ATI, PCARRD Conduct Joint Consultative
Meeting on Techno-Gabay Institutionalization
M
ANILA, Philippines -- With (DA-ATI) from the Department of management of PCARRD decided that
Executive Order 801 or Science and Technology - Philippine it is time to institutionalize the program
the Institutionalization of Council for Agriculture, Forestry and to an appropriate extension agency on
the Techno Gabay Program (TGP) Natural Resources Research and agriculture.
to the Department of Agriculture- Development (DOST- PCARRD) The consultation meeting
Agricultural Training Institute now fully in effect, managers at the was participated by ATI Regional
national level deemed Center Directors as well as the
it necessary to conduct Regional Consortia Directors. The
a consultation meeting main objective of the consultation
with its counterpart meeting was to brief the participants
at the regions to on the status of TGP and its
communicate the plans institutionalization to ATI. DA-ATI
for institutionalization. also took the opportunity to brief the
The TGP is the consortia directors on the parallel
PCARRD’s banner extension activities of DA-ATI in
program to bring science- relation to the TGP. Part of the
based information and meeting was also to discuss the
technology services emerging issues and come up with
closer to end-users in agreements and resolutions on the
agriculture, forestry institutionalization.
and natural resources The Joint DA-ATI and DOST-
(AFNR) sectors. But with PCARRD Meeting was held last
The joint consultative meeting was attended by ATI Center its nature as a mature February 24, 2011 in Bayview Park
Directors together with the PCARRD Consortium Directors.
extension modality, the Hotel, Manila.(BCNatividad)
Faster Web-based Profiling and Monitoring
System Now Accessible for the 4-H Clubs
L
A TRINIDAD, Benguet – As the officers of the 4-H Clubs for Luzon. which are in line with strengthening
Agricultural Training Institute The participants were briefed on the MIS of the Institute.
(ATI) strengthen its Management the features of the 4-H website and Members of the 4-H Club can
Information System (MIS) through were able to register and update their access the Web-based Profiling and
automation and Information and profiles in the site. Likewise, they Monitoring Website at www.ati.da.gov.
Communication Technology (ICT), were also oriented on the e-Extension ph/4-hclub.
the Institute developed a web-based Program and were able to register in The training was held last March
profiling and monitoring system for the e-Learning site and enrolled in the 14-18 at the Benguet State University,
the 4-H Clubs. The 4-H Club is a rural various e-Learning courses offered. La Trinidad, Benguet. The second
based organization for the youth in the Director Asterio P. Saliot during bacth of the training for Visayas and
agriculture and fisheries sector. the closing program emphasized MIndanao will be held in May 2011.
The 4-H Web-based Profiling and and encouraged the participants to (BCNatividad)
Monitoring System will serve as a regularly update their profiles as well
database containing basic information as the content of their site
on the members of the 4-H club and to exchange and share
its various activities and projects. information and best
The system will also be a monitoring practices.
tool for the 4-H Coordinators in the To date, the Institute
national and regional level. has already developed its
With this new system, a training Personnel Management
on the use of this web-based profiling Information System, the
and monitoring system was conducted database for Agricultural
for the Regional 4-H Coordinators, ATI Extension Workers and
Regional RBO Focal Persons and the the Project Monitoring
Regional 4-H Presidents and some and Evaluation System
6 e-Extension Agenda March 201
1

7. NEWS
e-Learning Course “Growing Vanda Snapshots
and Vandaceous Orchids”, now Briefings and trainings
accepting enrollees!
C
orsages, center pieces, flowering Vandaceous Orchids”!
pot plants and garden highlights The first online course on orchids,
– these are among the things Orchid1 is composed of 6 modules
Vanda Orchids are known for. But that tackle the general characteristics
don’t you know that aside from their and types, cultural management,
aesthetic value, these flowers are propagation methods, common
also known for pest and diseases
their promising management,
market harvesting and Agriculture Students from Pangasinan State
potential? postharvest handling University (PSU) visited the Agricultural
Get to technologies as Training Institute (ATI) for a briefing on the
know about this well as the business Institute’s programs and services, specifically
and more when prospects of on the e-Extension Program for Agriculture
you enroll in Vandaceous orchids. and Fisheries. The visit aimed to expose
e-Learning’s This course the students on the activities in techno-
“Growing is brought to us packaging and the various media used in
agricultural extension communication. The
Vanda and by ATI RTC-4A.
briefing was held at the ATI’s Agriculture
(YCRAgsawa) and Fisheries Knowledge Center in Diliman,
Quezon City last February 9, 2011.
What are our e-Learners say
From our shoutbox messages and emails @www.e-extension.gov.ph/elearning
“Bringing e-learning to NIPSC Batad Campus is an opportunity and big help to
our B.S.Agriculture students.Thank you so much, ATI!”
- Eva Montero
“Hi.Done with the BASIC AGRICULTURAL MARKETING EXTENSION.nag
enjoy po ako.dami ko po natutunan.thank you so much”
-Irish Felipe
The participants of the International Training
“Thank you so much. The course on AgriMark has added a lot of knowledge Course (ITC) on Value Chain in Agricultural
Products visited the Agricultural Training
that I can also share to lighten the burden of marketing issues in the agri
Institute (ATI) and were briefed on the
sector. Again thank you.” e-Extension Program. The 20 participants of
-Amalia Cadorna Vestal the training course comes from various ASEAN
member countries like Cambodia, Lao PDR,
“I am now very thankful being within the world of agriculture even if I Myanmar and the Philippines. The training
hated this things before. For the time being, I’ve always been looking for course aims to enhance the knowledge and
some ways to add-up and in-depth my knowledge in the field of agriculture, skills of the participants on agri-supply and
and e-learning is an option of making this. I really appreciate this program value chain in agricultural products. The
because it can give know how for those individuals who loved agriculture and briefing was held at the Computer Laboratory
also it gives a wide array of knowledge for those techician in the field, for of the Agriculture and Fisheries Knowledge
them to share to the farmers out there.” Center, ATI-Central Office last February 10,
2011.
-Paulino R. Molit
“Thank you for the help extended... Mabuhay ang e-Extension!!!! ”
-Victor Serafica
“Now I’m arleady done with my coures ‘seed to seed online course on corn
production’ I’ve gain a lot of knowledge from it.”
-Wilver Cabalbag
e-Extension Agenda March 201
1 7

8. NEWS
A Short Story of a Client- e-Extension Does FourPlay....
From page 2
turned-Graduate Furthermore, with the impending
I
Institutionalization of the Techno
n a land near the Agricultural about the Department of Agriculture’s
Gabay Program to ATI, the
Training Institute’s Central Office e-Extension Program specifically
coordinators reviewed the existing
(ATI-CO) in Quezon City, a on the e-Learning Component. The
plans and strategies that will be
young professional named Aaron program stirred his interest and shortly
incorporated in their work and financial
Jed Tumbali lives. Aaron Jed is a after discovering what e-Learning is
plans for the new functions that will be
Technology and Livelihood Education about, he created a user account,
given to them.
(TLE) instructor at St. John of Beverly, enrolled and completed some of the
ATI Director Asterio P. Saliot
Quezon City. As a person whose duty online courses, one after the other.
emphasized the importance of the
is to impart knowledge to others – his And just recently, he returned
Assessment and Planning Workshop
students, in particular – he constantly to ATI-CO, this time to receive his
to the Program and reiterated that
searches for other materials that would Certificates of Completion as well as
endeavors such as this will only make
enrich his awareness and expertise in personally meet-and-greet some of the
the Program better. “We want make
his field. e-Learning Support Team.
it a very strong program that would
Once upon a sunny day, Aaron Up to now, Aaron Jed regularly
convey information to people at the
Jed dropped by ATI-CO to purchase visits the site and looks out for online
grassroots particularly the farmers and
a technology-based video material. courses and materials that he could
the fisherfolk. And this is also a vehicle
During his visit, he was oriented use for his classes.(YCRAgsawa)
we can make so that the ordinary
people, the citizens of this country will
feel that the government is trying to
reach them,” Saliot said.
Saliot also noted that the
coordinators should also gain from
this activity and “hope that after
the assessment, everybody will be
satisfied, inspired, committed and
persevering. And above all everybody
will remain steadfast because
challenges can come and go.”
The e-Extension Assessment
and Planning Workshop was held last
January 31 to February 5, 2011 at the
Segundo R. Serrano Hall, ATI-Central
Office.(BCNatividad)
The e-Extension Agenda
Volume IV Number 1
March 2011
Editor Pamela MG Mappala
Writers Yovina-Claire R. Agsawa
Benedict C. Natividad
Contributors Rolando Maningas (ATI-RTC 4a)
Primalou Imperial, (ATI-RTC 5)
Erma Lucero, (ATI-RTC 7)
Dennis Boyd Baltazar (ATI-RTC 8)
Layout Artist Benedict C. Natividad
Editorial Consultants Antonieta J. Arceo
Jose Rey Y. Alo
Advisers Asterio P. Saliot MNSA, CESO III
Evelyn Aro-Esquejo PhD, MNSA, CESO VI
Alberto B. Maningding MNSA, CESO IV
8 e-Extension Agenda March 201
1