Clear, strategic communication remains central to effective field implementation. With this in focus, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Ilocos Region team enhanced its public engagement and content production skills during the SAAD Phase 2 – Public Relations and Development Communication (PRDC) Training conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Regional Fisheries Office 1 (BFAR RF01) last February 18–19, 2026.
The two-day training directly supports all SAAD Ilocos’ field operations, where effective coordination with stakeholders depends on how clearly program goals, processes, and accomplishments are conveyed. By strengthening competencies in public speaking and video production, the Ilocos team aims to ensure that development messages are delivered with clarity, accuracy, and professionalism.
Representing DA-SAAD Ilocos were Information Officer Abegail Marcelino, Associate Project Officer Fridlee Rodriguez, and DA – Ilocos Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (DA-RFO1 RAFIS) Media Production Specialist Junard Carl E. Balagot.
On the first day, Information Services Section Head Dr. Maricel “Marielle” Dulay-Dacapias of the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 1 (DA-ATI-RTC1) discussed the Fundamentals of Public Speaking and Audio-Visual Presentation.
Through workshops, participants developed and presented AVP concepts, receiving structured feedback on message organization, audience engagement, and delivery techniques.
For the Ilocos delegation, the session underscored the need to translate technical agricultural information into messages that farmer-beneficiaries and partners can easily understand. Clear and well-structured communication, they noted, reduces the risk of misinterpretation of program guidelines and strengthens trust in implementation processes.
Building on these foundations, the second day then focused on Video Editing and Digital Storytelling, under the guidance of Motion and Graphic Artist from DOST PAG-ASA NCR-PRSD Mr. Manuel S. Joson, Jr. Through lectures and hands-on demonstrations, participants refined their skills in editing workflows, enhancing visual storytelling, and properly exporting and publishing content.
These technical competencies are expected to elevate the quality of documentation and advocacy materials produced by SAAD Ilocos. Stronger visual narratives, the team shared, can more effectively showcase beneficiary impact and program milestones while maintaining transparency and consistency in messaging.
Moreover, Mr. Balagot presented the best practices of the DA-RFO1 and DA-SAAD PRDC Unit in developing Audio-Visual Presentations (AVPs) for agricultural development advocacy.
Participants identified several anticipated outcomes from the training, including more effective facilitation of consultation and orientation activities, clearer presentation of project updates, improved documentation of field initiatives, and stronger, more unified communication strategies across teams.
The impact of the two-day training is expected to be seen in the coming months as the DA-SAAD Ilocos team applies its strengthened communication strategies in daily field operations. By embedding clarity, consistency, and professionalism into every consultation, presentation, and documentation output, the team reinforces its commitment to transparent governance and more responsive agricultural development services for its partner communities. ###
