ILOILO City – Student-made agricultural products from Western Visayas could soon reach wider regional and national markets as the Department of Education (DepEd) seeks partnerships with government agencies to improve product quality, packaging and commercialization.
The initiative follows the successful showcase of food and non-food innovations from 11 farm schools across eight Schools Division Offices (SDOs) during the region’s first Literacy and Numeracy (LitNum) Expo, held November 4 and 5, 2026, at Punta Villa Resort in Iloilo City.
DepEd Western Visayas plans to collaborate with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to strengthen food processing standards, enhance product packaging and accelerate product development.
The proposed partnerships aim to help transform school-based agricultural innovations into competitive, market-ready products while providing students with practical entrepreneurial experience and potential income-generating opportunities.
Among the products showcased under DepEd’s One Farm School, One Product (OFSOP) initiative were catfish sardines, steamed catfish siopao and banana polvoron, highlighting how locally available agricultural resources can be developed into value-added consumer goods.
The initiative integrates agricultural production, entrepreneurship and financial literacy into Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE), allowing students to apply classroom lessons to actual business activities.
April Velez, education program supervisor in charge of TLE and farm schools, emphasized the importance of agricultural education in developing practical competencies alongside foundational academic skills.
“Farm schools play a vital role in strengthening literacy and numeracy through their specialized curricula, which integrate agripreneurship and equip learners with essential life skills, entrepreneurial competencies, and hands-on learning experiences,” Velez noted.
The participating institutions were Pinamuk-an Integrated Farm School and Agdugayan Integrated Farm School in Aklan; Aningalan Integrated Farm School in Antique; Ishmael B. Orillos Integrated Farm School and Roxas Farm School in Capiz; and Catalino G. Nava Farm School in Guimaras.
Iloilo Province was represented by Jayobo Farm School and San Joaquin Farm School, while Iloilo City fielded Tiu Cho Teg-Ana Rose Foundation Integrated Farm School.
Also participating were Ramon Adriano R. Orozco Farm School in Passi City and Loctugan Integrated Farm School in Roxas City.
Beyond showcasing student creativity, the expo demonstrated the potential of farm schools to bridge the gap between academic learning and livelihood development, particularly in agricultural communities where opportunities for entrepreneurship can help improve economic prospects.
The planned collaboration with DTI and DOST could provide the technical assistance needed to improve the commercial viability of student-developed products and expand their reach beyond school exhibitions.
Through OFSOP, DepEd-6 seeks to develop learners who are not only academically proficient but also equipped with the technical knowledge, business skills and entrepreneurial competencies needed to participate in the agricultural economy.
The initiative underscores the growing role of farm schools in preparing young people to become agricultural entrepreneurs rather than merely producers of raw farm commodities./PN
