By Joycel Lagrio, STRATCOM Correspondent

A new season of MMSU School-on-the-Air (SOA), a radio-based educational program, kicked off on June 24 and 25, drawing 1,000 enrollees from various towns in Ilocos Norte for this year’s edition focused on regenerative vegetable farming for enhanced and sustainable production.

Spearheaded by MMSU, in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), local government units (LGUs), the Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic Resources Research and Development Consortium, and its radio station partners, the SOA program aims to empower farmers with innovative and sustainable techniques that promote long-term productivity, climate resilience, and increased income.

The program is being aired from June to December 2025 through MMSU’s partner radio stations: DWFB Radyo Pilipinas Laoag, DWCI Radyo Adjo Piddig, and DWNI Radyo Karruba Burgos.

According to the Extension Directorate, enrollees come from the vegetable growers, rural improvement club members, development/agricultural extension workers, and students across the province from the 22 municipalities and cities in the province, with a significant increase in participants from last year. 

Dr. Fides Bernardo Bitanga, MMSU Vice President for Administration and Finance, representing the MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., emphasized the crucial role of partner agencies, LGUs, and the High-Value Crops Division of Ilocos Norte in helping local farmers sustain the vegetable industry in the province.

He expressed pride in the program’s growing reach and its impact on local agricultural development. “Let us all learn from this program. Let us all progress together with no one left behind,” Dr. Bitanga added. 

Meanwhile, PGIN-OPAG’s SOA coordinator Lorna Lubera emphasized the timeliness of the initiative, particularly with the distribution of off-season vegetable seeds and the introduction of climate-smart practices. 

“What’s good about OPAG’s efforts right now is that we are providing vegetable seeds for the off-season, which farmers can apply alongside the knowledge they are gaining,” Ms. Lubera shared, highlighting the practical applications of the lessons being taught. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Marilou Lucas, MMSU Extension Directorate director, also extended her gratitude to the partner agencies and encouraged participants to remain committed, complete the program, and apply what they learn to improve their livelihoods, helping uplift their communities. 

Since 2016, MMSU has been offering a non-formal education program in the province through the SOA covering various topics in agriculture.