DepEd releases PHP 48 million for NIR farm schools

BACOLOD CITY – The Department of Education (DepEd) has released PHP 48 million in financial assistance to support agricultural education in the Negros Island Region (NIR), including PHP 1 million each for 46 established farm schools.

The distribution of checks was held during the Farm School Fiesta on Nov. 7 and 8 at Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City, where farm schools from across the region showcased agricultural products, student innovations, and best practices.

The Schools Division Offices (SDOs) of Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental and Talisay City in Negros Occidental also received PHP 1 million each to establish new farm schools.

The assistance forms part of the Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Program Support Funds allocated to DepEd-NIR for 2026 to 2027.

The funds are intended for capacity building, training, monitoring, and related activities rather than classroom construction and other infrastructure projects.

DepEd-NIR Regional Director Ramir Uytico thanked Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and the DepEd Central Office for their unwavering support, which enables the region to strengthen agricultural education and develop the skills of young learners.

Currently, the region operates 46 approved farm schools across Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, serving more than 12,000 learners.

Uytico said farm schools do more than teach students how to cultivate the land, as they also equip learners with the skills to become agricultural entrepreneurs and leaders in sustainable community development.

Under Republic Act 10618, or the Rural Farm Schools Act, farm schools provide an alternative mode of secondary education that combines academic instruction with practical agricultural and fisheries training for learners in rural communities.

Organized by DepEd-NIR through its Curriculum and Learning Management Division (CLMD), the fiesta aimed to position farm school education as a driver of agricultural productivity, entrepreneurship, and sustainable community development while strengthening stakeholder partnerships, resource mobilization, and market linkages.

The two-day event drew hundreds of participants, including regional and division education leaders, school heads, teachers, farm school learners, local government officials, and key community partners.

Before the event, DepEd-NIR also partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to provide technical assistance in product development, packaging, labeling, and market readiness.

These partnerships aim to help farm schools improve the quality and marketability of their products while creating opportunities for learners to develop entrepreneurial skills.

Another highlight of the event was the launch of the Farm School Website, providing a digital platform to support the region’s agricultural education initiatives.

The financial assistance and industry partnerships are expected to strengthen farm schools’ capacity to provide practical agricultural training, promote entrepreneurship, and support sustainable livelihoods in rural communities.