In recognition of Philippine Carabao Center’s (PCC) extension efforts in the National Impact Zone (NIZ), which is the province of Nueva Ecija, the NIZ Project was given a special plaque of commendation during the Philippine Extension and Advisory Services Network, Inc. (PhilEASNet) Biennial Symposium, held last October 9-10 at the Bohol Tropics Hotel in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

“We are happy and very blessed that the NIZ project received such accolade. Beyond our work, we hope to inspire others to never give up and to pursue doing things for the greater good,” Wilma del Rosario, PCC’s NIZ coordinator said.

The PCC’s NIZ project started in 1999 as an initiative geared towards the demonstration of the enterprise development component of the PCC’s Carabao Development Program. Back then, Nueva Ecija was chosen as the PCC’s NIZ while 13 regional impact zones were also identified.

This year’s symposium theme is “Facing the Challenges of 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) Through Extension and Advisory Services”.

Bohol Governor Arthur Yap emphasized that the proper delivery of extension work can add 32-35% increase in the production aspect of agriculture.

“The 4th industrial revolution is a fusion of technologies characterized by physical, digital and biological spheres, which can be disruptive. The challenge now is how to apply 4IR technologies to the farm sector,” he added.

The symposium aimed to (1) explain challenges and opportunities on 4IR, (2) share innovations and initiatives of good extension and advisory service practices, and (3) identify measures for capacity development and knowledge management in anticipation of the 4IR challenges and opportunities.

“As extension professionals and practitioners, we have to be prepared and equipped to help ensure that 4IR will not make the rich, richer and the poor, poorer. We need to adapt well to this reality in the name of service especially to those who have less in life,” PhilEASNet President Karen Eloisa Barroga stated on the message she wrote for the event.

A total of 45 papers were presented. The said papers delved in various subthemes such as Innovations in Knowledge Management, Novel Capacity Building Initiatives, Trailblazing Extension Interventions, Developing Sustainable Community Livelihoods, Extension and Public Service of HEI, and Extension, and Public Service of HEI.

Conversations on the 4IR applications in the fields of rice, livestock, vegetable, forestry, and land resources management were also conducted with invited resource speakers.

This year’s outstanding extension practitioner is Elmer Sayre, executive director of WAND Foundation. In the extension category, “HILING program: An Extension Innovation of Agricultural Training Institute-Region IV-A” was hailed as this year’s outstanding extension project. Meanwhile, under the same category, the outstanding research paper award was won by the paper entitled “Stimulating the Entrepreneurial Prowess of Women Farmers in Macarse, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija”.

Dr. Eric Palacpac, PhilEASNet’s vice president for Luzon and PCC’s Knowledge Management Division chief, awarded the certificates.

The keynote speakers of the symposium were Dr. Glenn Gregorio, director, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, and Dr. Aniceto Orbeta, Jr., senior research fellow, Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

Also present in the event was Tagbilaran City Mayor John Gessnell Yap who expressed his support on conduct of the symposium.

More than 200 participants from select government agencies, universities, and other institutions engaged in extension work participated in the event.