After more than two years of restrictions from conducting personal gatherings due to the CoViD-19 pandemic, the Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development, College of Economics and Management, University of the Philippines Los Baños (ICOPED, CEM, UPLB) held its first hybrid Training of Trainers (ToT) for Provincial Population, Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office (PPCLDO) of the Province of Pangasinan last 04-07 April 2022 in Lingayen, Pangasinan. It was attended by twenty-eight (28) employees of PPCLDO.

Led by Asst. Prof. Liezel S. Cruz, the Director of ICOPED, Ms. Adriann M. Quilloy as Training Coordinator; Asst. Prof. Ceptryl S. Mina and Asst. Prof. Ma. Theresa M. Castro-Bernardo as Resource Speakers; and Mr. John Paulo M. Opulencia as Training Support Staff went to Lingayen, Pangasinan to facilitate and conduct a 4-day hybrid ToT which was a combination of face-to-face and virtual ToT. The Institute also invited faculty from the College of Development Communication, UPLB namely Dr. Benjamina G. Flor and Dr. Mildred O. Moscoso as Resource Speakers. 

The ToT was gracefully commenced by Asst. Prof. Cruz and Dr. Agham C. Cuevas, Dean of CEM, UPLB, as they delivered their welcome remarks and inspirational message, respectively, through a pre-recorded video presentation. Four modules which include Perspective Setting: Cooperative as a Tool for Development, Training for Cooperative Development, Cooperative Training Skills and Techniques, and Action Planning were discussed throughout the 4-day ToT. Two of the four modules were presented virtually through Zoom by Dr. Flor and Dr. Moscoso. At the end of the four modules, workshop on accomplishing Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Forms, and module and session guides was conducted. The participants also presented their outputs through microteaching.

To conclude the successful ToT, a graduation ceremony was conducted. Mr. Ellsworth G. Gonzales, a participant and Department Head of PPCLDO, gave the opening remarks followed by the inspirational messages from Hon. Alberto A. Sabarias, Regional Director of CDA Region 1 – Extension Office, and Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr., Chancellor of UPLB; awarding of certificates and special awards; and presentation and acceptance of ToT graduates. Lastly, Asst. Prof. Cruz, expressed her sincere appreciation to the ICOPED Training Team and Resource Speakers; and emphasized that the essence of ToT is not just to capacitate the trainers but to equip them to help the coop sector, as she delivered the closing remarks. (Paul Kenneth B. Maghirang)