On November 15, 2023, Ms. Ma. Socorro M. Bulatao, Supervising TESD Specialist of TESDA-Benguet provided a talk on TESDA agriculture-related programs and services for farm schools in the 2nd Regional Agriculture Extension Summit at the Agricultural Training Center – RTC, Benguet State University.

The talk included the process of Program Registration, Competency Assessment and Certification, industry board creation and the Agro-Studies Program for Agriculture trainers, graduates and practitioners necessary to give an economic and social boost for the sector. The summit convened about twenty-five (25) ATI-recognized Learning Sites and farm practitioners from Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mt. Province. The Program on Accelerating Farm School Establishments (PAFSE) can usher the engagement with the farm schools whose ATI-recognition as Learning Site can be its passport for registration. She underscored that the farm schools can opt to partner with the TESDA as prospective TVET partners for training delivery, competency assessment and industry collaboration, and the prospects as Scholarship implementer so as to boost the economic potential of the sector in aid of achieving the developmental needs of the Province of Benguet and Baguio City.

The activity also served as a fitting venue for industry consultation and validation of the current, existing and emerging agriculture-related skills sets resulting from the Provincial Skills Map relevant and wanting in the area. Among the emerging skills sets identified were Agricultural Drone Operation, mushroom production, hydronics, urban gardening, cacao processing, drying of vegetables and fruits and its processing.