Region 9 – As part of the rebooting strategy of the Department of Agriculture after the devastation inflicted upon the agri-fisheries sector by the COVID-19 pandemic, an innovative and unique program was conceptualized to mobilize, capacitate and develop the next generation of Filipinos to become the country’s future agriculture and fisheries frontliners: the Mentoring and Attracting Youth in Agribusiness (MAYA) program.
The MAYA program aims to develop a young cadre of agribusiness leaders through two tracks: Employment Track (future government workers in Agri-Fisheries) and Entrepreneurial Track (future Agri-Fisheries Industrial leaders) that will train and produce a technically competent workforce by exposing them to experiential learning in the various segments of the fisheries sector. During the six-month course of the program, each intern will receive a monthly allowance of ₱ 20,000.00. Online application for the Mentoring and Attracting Youth (Maya) Program in Region IX opened on February 9, 2021.
BFAR-IX conducted its first MAYA orientation on March 21, 2021, via an online platform attended by 15 qualified applicants to introduce to them the rationale and overall objectives of the program. Mr. Al-Zath K. Kunting, Assistant Regional Director and concurrent OIC of the Regional Fisheries Training and Fisherfolk Coordination Division, Ms. Liliosa R. Paredes, Chief of the Finance and Administrative Division, and Mr. Crisanto P. Catubig, Human Resource Management Officer, served as facilitators and speakers during the orientation.
The virtual orientation was followed by a couple of face-to-face meetings held last March 23 and 26, 2021 in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga City, respectively, to discuss an in-depth familiarization of the BFAR plans, programs, and activities.
The MAYA Employment Track interns were deployed in the various operating units and farm stations of the bureau throughout the region, while the Entrepreneurship Track interns will be assigned to the different Fisherfolk Cooperatives and Associations in Zamboanga Peninsula.
(Source: BFAR Region 9)