BOHOL, February 27, 2024 – To equip the implementers with the necessary skills, knowledge, and techniques to effectively train farmers in financial literacy and social development, 17 Central Visayas staff of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program attended the Financial Literacy and Social Skills Development Training of Trainers (TOT) on February 20-22, 2024. 

This activity is in preparation for the capability enhancement activities to be conducted for SAAD-support associations. The resource persons from the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Central Visayas capacitated the participants on financial and interpersonal management, leadership, and team collaboration. 

Training Specialist Jeorge Trinidad, talked about the different Filipino traits relative to their financial status and the significance of educating them with financial management. He also gave emphasis on the importance of financial literacy training to the FAs covered by the SAAD Program.

“Ang ato mag gud gi–connote sa tihik kay negative. Tan-awa na inyo kauban na di kaayo mugasto, di ba maoy daghan og kwarta. Kana ganing mogasto, nga masinop ka kung nagbudget ka. Kay ngano? If  wala sa imo budget, di gud na nimo paliton,” said Mr. Trinidad.

[We connote “tihik” as negative. Observe your colleagues, those who are thrifty are the ones who have money. If you spend, you are thrifty if you know your budget. Why? If the expense is beyond your budget, you will not spend your money on that.]

Meanwhile, Training Specialist Ma. Gracia Pungay emphasized the crucial role of team building within a workplace setting. She highlighted the significance of fostering teamwork characterized by active listening and effective communication. These qualities are instrumental in cultivating a conducive work environment that encourages collaboration and enhances overall productivity.

“When we stop competing against a rival and instead start competing against the situation, we perform better,” Ms. Pungay shared.

The TOT event was also attended by key figures including the Regional Executive Director of Central Visayas, Dir. Angel C. Enriquez, Regional Technical Director for Operations, Engr. Cirilo N. Namoc, and Bohol Agricultural Program Coordinating Office (APCO), Mr. Roman Dabalos.

Dir. Enriquez highlighted the significant role of the SAAD Program in the lives of farmer beneficiaries, particularly in enhancing their financial literacy. She emphasized the importance of sharing the knowledge gained by Area Coordinators during the training with the farmers. She urged everyone to work together for successful SAAD Program implementation in Central Visayas.

“I really hope that you will be really able to impart to the beneficiaries because more or less ang ato man gud program sa agriculture, ang failure ani is we lack the capacitation of our beneficiaries particularly in the financial side kay usahay mao ni ang kulang nila,” Director Enriquez said.

[I really hope that you will be able to impart to the beneficiaries more or less our program because you know, the failure of this is we lack in the capacitation of our beneficiaries particularly in the financial aspect because sometimes this is what they lack].

Looking forward, SAAD Central Visayas will be conducting a series of capability enhancement training in April to May 2024 for the benefit of 1,200 farmers from 48 FAs in 28 municipalities covered in the Phase 2 Program implementation in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. ###

Writer: Romeo Ruel M. Paras, DA-SAAD Central Visayas Information Officer