NINE youths who participated in the Government Internship Program for Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering Youth (GIP-ABE), now implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (DA-BAFE), started their internship program.

The internship program aims to increase the delivery of agricultural and biosystems engineering services in support of the implementation of agri-fisheries mechanization, small-scale irrigation and farm-to-market roads, postharvest facilities, and other agri-fisheries infrastructure projects of the DA.

Nine interns were taken from different municipalities covered by the program. The program covers the provinces of Pampanga, Bataan, Bulacan and Tarlac.

Before being deployed, the applicants first underwent program orientation and thorough training such as Geotagging tools. Their work includes assisting local government units (LGUs) regarding Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization Plan, Farm to Market Road Network Plan, registration and inventory for agricultural and fishery machinery.

According to Engr. Carlo Magat of the Regional Agricultural and Engineering Division of the third region, the internship program will last six months or 132 days ending in September of the current year.

For now, the program is still open to interested young people who have completed the Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering courses and have the chance to start the second batch of interns this coming September.

Upon their graduation they may have a chance to get formal employment in their respective local government units.