Antique youths urged to pursue agriculture courses

The Department of Agriculture (DA) continues to ramp up its efforts to attain food security and boost competitiveness in the agriculture sector by promoting opportunities for youth to pursue agriculture and fishery-related courses. On May 23, DA Western Visayas conducted the fourth leg of the Agriculture and Fisheries Scholarship Information Caravan in Sibalom, Antique. Students and teachers from 11 senior high schools in the province attended the event.

Around 80 students from Igburi National High School in Patnongon; Governor Julio V. Macuja Memorial Comprehensive High School, Governor Julian Fullon Pacificador National School, and General Leandro Fullon National School in Hamtic; Antique National School and Advance Central College Discovery High School in San Jose; Valderrama National High School in Valderrama; and Pangpang National High School, Sibalom National High School, and the University of Antique in Sibalom gained an understanding of the various scholarship offers provided by the government.

Centered on the theme “Kabataan sa Agrikultura para sa Bayang Masagana,” this DA program seeks to encourage senior high school students to consider courses such as agriculture, fisheries, agricultural engineering, and veterinary medicine through the scholarship opportunities offered by the DA Agricultural Training Institute, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Coconut Authority, Sugar Regulatory Administration, and Land Bank of the Philippines.

Agency representatives discussed the steps, requirements, and benefits of availing themselves of their respective scholarship programs, which are expected to increase enrollment in agriculture-related courses beginning in the Academic Year 2025-2026. In the long run, the extensively developed and trained agriculture students are expected to contribute to providing equitable solutions to various sectoral constraints, particularly in food production and security.

Antique Provincial Agriculturist Nicolasito Calawag, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries, shared how his decision to take the course helped pave the way for his more than 30 years of servant leadership, equipping him with technical and managerial skills. He hoped that the scholarship offers and government resources would grant deserving students the privilege to continue their collegiate education and secure, stable agricultural sector jobs or pursue agricultural entrepreneurship.

The caravan, a collaborative undertaking between DA Western Visayas and the Department of Education (DepEd) Antique, was also graced by Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer Sonie Guanco, Regional Information Officer James Earl Ogatis, Sibalom South District Supervisor Dr. Demar Cahilig, and Sibalom Municipal Agriculturist Albert Estoya.### Photos by KDCaldina, VNQuimpo & CLauresta/DA-RAFIS

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