Now on its sixth month, the Balik Probinsya Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) collaborative project of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University and the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 1 continues to bring the trainings on agricultural production and food processing technologies to the four provinces of Region 1. Forty-three recipients from the three towns in Ilocos Sur namely Alilem, Sta. Lucia, and Sto. Domingo received the trainings from the DMMMSU-DA team last June 24, July 7, and July 8, 2022.

Twenty-four participants in Alilem, Ilocos Sur were trained on vegetable, mushroom, goat, and chicken production technologies by Mr. Ferdinand M. Navarro, Mr. Kevin E. Elias, Mr. Terson C. Casi, and Ms. Donna S. Cariaso, agriculture experts from DMMMSU.

Meanwhile, 11 BP2 recipients  from Sta. Lucia were trained on vegetable production, food safety and good manufacturing, tomato jam processing, chicken production and goat production by Mr. Navarro, Prof. Anabella G. Valdez, Ms. Erlinda Q. Balancio, Mr. Russel B. Barrameda, and Mr. Casi.  

Finally, 8 BP2 recipients from Santo Domingo were trained on goat production, food safety and good manufacturing practices, tomato jam processing, chicken production, and cattle production by DMMMSU experts Mr. Casi, Prof. Valdez, Ms. Balancio, and Mr. Barrameda.

BP2 trainings are structured to ensure maximum learning experience with the incorporation of hands-on and return demonstration exercise for the food processing components.

DMMMSU now has a total of 7 BP2 trainings which were held in three (3) different provinces in Region 1. It has catered to 137 individual recipients of the Balik Probinsya Program.

The training secretariat for the BP2 project is headed by Prof. Victoria N. Malaya, ATBI project leader; together with Mrs. Rhoda A. Galban, senior agriculturist from the DA-RFO1, and their respective staff. (Ronald B. Bustos)