San Pedro City – The Department of Trade and Industry – Laguna Provincial Office (DTI-Laguna) took part in the Moving Forward Ceremony of the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture Program (KSK-SAP) of the SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) on October 2, 2024, held at SM Center San Pedro City, Laguna.

The event celebrated the remarkable achievements of farmer beneficiaries who successfully completed the KSK program, an initiative organized by SMFI in collaboration with several partner agencies such as DTI, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), City Government of San Pedro, Moca Family Farm RLearning Center, Inc., SM Markets, and SM Center San Pedro City.

The SMFI KSK-SAP’s 86 beneficiaries, from Barangay Landayan and Barangay San Vicente in San Pedro City, underwent a comprehensive 14-week training program from July to October, combining lectures and practical training designed to empower and equip them with agricultural practices and explore avenues for sustainable growth. The modular training curriculum covers topics on the latest agricultural technology updates, capacity building, financial literacy, product development, and market opportunities.

As part of the program, graduates took part in market tour with SM Markets, gaining insights into marketing strategies and potential selling opportunities. After welcoming the graduates and prestigious guests, the representatives from partner agencies were asked to deliver messages of support. DTI-Laguna’s Provincial Director Christian Ted O. Tungohan congratulated the KSK graduates for their dedication and hard work and reiterated the consistent support of the agency to the KSK program. He emphasized the importance of processing the farmer’s produce to generate higher income, aside from supplying their own harvests in SM Supermarkets. He also took the opportunity to recognize and award the graduates with certificates of participation for the two training sessions conducted by DTI, as part of the comprehensive support provided to the graduates as they embarked on their journey towards sustainable livelihoods. DTI-Laguna also received certificate of appreciation from the SMFI, recognizing their valuable contribution and collaborative efforts in empowering the farmer-beneficiaries through the KSK program.

In addition to the celebration, the graduates received their National Certificate II from TESDA, providing them with opportunities to advance their careers in the farming sector. After the training, DSWD, through the Sustainable Livelihood Program, provided seed capital funds to the farmers intended for the procurement of raw materials, agricultural tools, and service facilities necessary for establishing each micro-enterprise.

Director Tungohan commended SMFI and partner agencies’ collaborative efforts and unwavering support for enhancing the livelihoods of Filipinos and looked forward to continuing support for similar programs that empower local communities in Laguna province (NMRepol, DTI-Laguna). ♦

Date of release: 19 November 2024

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