Empowering the South: M3DAS Conducts Enumerator Training in Cotabato and Davao

In a significant push toward digitizing agricultural data in Mindanao, the M3DAS project team successfully conducted specialized training sessions for enumerators in the Cotabato and Davao Mill Districts on March 19 and 21, 2025.

Strategic Training Hubs
The training sessions were strategically located to cater to the key sugarcane-producing hubs of the region:

Cotabato Session: Held at the Cotabato Sugar Central Company, Inc. in Matalam, North Cotabato.

Davao Session: Conducted at the Avenue One Hotel in Digos City, Davao del Sur.

Distinguished Participation and Support
The events were bolstered by a strong presence from national and regional leadership, ensuring the project’s objectives are integrated with broader agricultural policies. Attendees included:

SRA Regional Leadership: Mill District Officers Engr. Rex P. Dumalaba (Cotabato) and Engr. Resty R. Obiso (Davao).

SRA Main Office: Engr. Laverne C. Olalia (Manager III, RDE Department) and Engr. Jean Paul Quirino (ABE Division).

DOST-PCAARRD Representatives: Ms. Maria Teresa L. de Guzman (OIC, ARMRD) and Ms. Ofelia F. Domingo (Senior Science Research Specialist).

Mastering the M3DAS Digital Toolkit
The core objective was to transform the data collection process by training enumerators on the M3DAS web survey application. As a high-efficiency paperless tool, the application allows for:

Real-time Mapping: Capturing the precise location of mechanization resources.

Standardized Reporting: Ensuring consistency in how sugarcane machinery and implements are cataloged.

Baseline Analysis: Building a reliable dataset to assess the current state of mechanization in specific localities.

Institutional Framework
The M3DAS project continues its mission as a collaborative effort implemented by UPLB-BIOMECH, funded by DOST-PCAARRD, and executed in close partnership with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA). By equipping local enumerators with these advanced skills, the project ensures that the modernization of the Philippine sugarcane industry is guided by accurate, high-fidelity data.