Negros Occidental organic tech center gets certification as ATI learning site

BACOLOD CITY – The Negros First Organic Technology Center (NFOTeC) in Tabunan, Bago City, is the first facility recognized by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) -Regional Training Center 6 as a certified learning site in the Western Visayas.

ATI-6 Center director Eden Bautista turned over the certificate to Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino Tuesday during the monthly meeting of the Association of City and Municipal Agriculturists of Negros Occidental in Talisay City.

Bautista said that with the ATI certified learning site, farmers and fisherfolk can be easily grouped and trained together and access the services of ATI.

While the certified learning site is usually given to private establishments, the provincial government has complied with all the requirements of ATI, making it the first training center to have this kind of certificate in the region, she said.

“We granted the certificate so that they can be a venue for training and other extension activities set by ATI or its mother agency, the Department of Agriculture,” she said.

Masculino said NFOTeC will be the venue for learning organic agriculture, and for farmers, students, and even teachers to learn technical-vocational skills as part of the requirements to teach under the K-12 curriculum.

“We will focus on organic agriculture. With this accreditation from ATI, we can request assistance and funding for the training to be conducted at the organic center,” he said.

He also said this is important as they are now applying to make NFOTeC an accredited Tesda center for the trainees to become scholars of the agency as well.

Masculino said that now that the center has certification from ATI, he hopes Tesda will approve its application within this year.

After becoming a Tesda center, OPA also plans to upgrade the facility into a farm tourism center that will be approved by the Department of Tourism, he added.

The center is also applying to become a certified organic farm at the Negros Island Certification Services.

Among the initial training to be conducted at the center will be on organic livestock-raising of various animals, in partnership with the Provincial Veterinary Office, that is also one of the multiplier centers in the province.