𝗗𝗔 𝗕𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗖𝗔𝗣 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

A three-day training workshop on Climate Information Services (CIS) was organized and facilitated by UPLBFI last 11-13 July 2023 at the UPLBFI Bldg. in Los Baños, Laguna. This was participated by CIS Focal and Computer Programmers from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Offices (RFO) in Bicol and Western Visayas.

In 2022, UPLBFI together with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (Alliance) developed the Agro-Climatic Advisory Portal (ACAP), a digital CIS platform, which was piloted in the Bicol Region and is currently being replicated for the DA-Western Visayas. To promote sustainability of this initiative, UPLBFI organized the training workshop which aimed to capacitate the designated staff from DA Bicol and Western Visayas on the necessary skills and knowledge required for the development, operation, and management of ACAP.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Enrico Supangco (Executive Director, UPLBFI) highlighted the importance of developing tools and technologies such as ACAP that will help farmers and fisherfolk adapt to the changing weather and climate conditions. Afterwards, Ms. Dorcas Trinidad (Project Leader, UPLBFI) expressed her gratitude to DA Bicol and Western Visayas for their continuous support and trust to the foundation.

Presentations from Mr. Jonathan Austria (Data Management Specialist, UPLBFI) and Mr. Dominic Lapitan (Computer Programmer, UPLBFI) followed. Mr. Austria shared the basic concepts related to CIS and gave an overview of the ACAP website. Mr. Lapitan, on the other hand, discussed the ACAP software, particularly its technology stack and components.

Breakout sessions were conducted among the CIS Focal and Computer Programmers during the second day of the training. For the CIS Focal group, Mr. Austria, together with Ms. Jane Girly Balanza (CIS Technical Consultant, Alliance), trained the participants on how to operate and manage the ACAP. Meanwhile, Mr. Lapitan and Ms. Angel Barua (Computer Programmer, UPLBFI) led the training for the Computer Programmers on how to develop the ACAP software and database.

On the last day, Mr. Lapitan and Ms. Barua briefed the participants on additional programming-related information including the deployment of ACAP, and strategies in troubleshooting and managing potential errors and issues. Moreover, the two regions were tasked to produce their Climate Service Value Chain which identifies the enabling environment for the production, translation, transfer, and use of CIS. Data gathered will serve as baseline information for the crafting of policy instrument to mainstream the use of ACAP at the local level.

For the closing program, Ms. Julie Ann Barril (Documentation Specialist, UPLBFI) delivered a synthesis of activities during the three-day training workshop while Ms. Trinidad gave a closing remark hoping that the participants will be able to use the knowledge and skills gained through the training in developing a functional ACAP in their respective region.

ACAP is an online web application which functions as a one-stop-hub for generating agro-climatic advisories for the AMIA Villages and other Local Government Units in Bicol and Western Visayas. ACAP aims to guide and support extension workers in disseminating relevant and tailored advisories for farmers and fisherfolk to address the impacts of climate change.