Southeast Asian Journal of Agriculture and Allied Sciences

Competencies and Professional Development Needs of Philippine Alternative Learning System (ALS) Teachers: Strategies, Challenges, and Learning Facilitation Insights

2025-02-07T10:55:59+08:00

The Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the Philippines is essential for the provision of educational opportunities to adults and adolescents who are not enrolled in school. This study assessed ALS teachers' competencies and professional development needs in Makati City's Schools Division Office, examining their teaching strategies, challenges, and engagement methods. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study surveyed 53 ALS teachers through Google Forms to gather data on self-perceived competencies and professional development needs. Results revealed that while teachers rated their competencies as satisfactory to substantial, significant variations existed across instructional areas. Differentiated instruction emerged as the most substantial competency (4.1/5.0), while assessment and evaluation techniques needed the most improvement (3.6/5.0). Teachers reported using diverse engagement strategies, with collaborative learning (28%) and multimedia resources (26%) being the most effective. Key challenges included learner engagement, managing diverse backgrounds, and resource constraints. The study found that self-perceived competencies increased with teaching experience, highlighting the need for experience-based professional development. Based on these findings, recommendations include implementing tiered professional development systems, enhancing technology integration, developing learner diversity and engagement strategies, creating ALS-specific resources, fostering collaborative learning environments, and revising policies to better support ALS teachers. Future studies should explore learner perspectives and conduct comparative analyses across regions to identify best practices.

Biogas Digester for Power Generation using Rabbit Manure as Feedstock: Design, Fabrication, and Evaluation

2025-02-06T08:25:10+08:00

Assessing rabbit manure’s potential as a biofuel source for small-scale internal combustion engines was the primary objective of this study. The research utilized rabbit manure as feedstock, which was inoculated with carabao manure. A total of 60 kilograms of rabbit manure was subjected to treatment using a 1:1 water-to-manure ratio with a retention time of 25 days. Additionally, a microbial inoculant comprising 10% carabao manure was incorporated into the digestion process. The design consists of a split-type biogas digester with gasholder storage and a three-stage gas cleaning system, an internal combustion engine connected to a DC generator, and a simple lighting circuit. Findings indicated that the pH level recorded at 7.75 resulted in alkalinity which helped the biogas production by preventing the slurry from acidity. The total dissolved solids (TDS) were recorded at 3137 ppm, and it increased to 6980 ppm. For the performance evaluation in fueling the engine using biogas, the engine operated for 80 seconds and generates an average power of 31.66 watts.

Assessment of the Intervention Design and Benefits of Sustainable Land Resource Management Approach (SLRMA) on Corn Farmers in Ilagan City, Isabela, Philippines

2025-04-02T17:24:33+08:00

Sustainable farming systems have been acknowledged as an approach that balances the production of food and preservation of the environment. It involves practices that protect natural ecosystems such as soil conservation and water management, while also supporting the long-term economic viability for the farmers. To promote sustainable agriculture, various soil conservation technologies were introduced to corn farmers in Ilagan City, Isabela, Philippines through Sustainable Land Resource Management Approach (SLRMA). This study aimed to assess the intervention design and benefits of SLRMA to the 49 farmer-beneficiaries using the collected data on contour farming systems, crop diversification, training, and challenges encountered. A quantitative research design was utilized, incorporating descriptive and comparative approaches to examine and interpret the collected data. The analysis was focused on changes in production and profit before and after the implementation of SLRMA, using paired t-tests to compare these variables. Results revealed that SLRMA has had a positive and significant effect on farming practices and livelihoods, particularly for those with 2 to 5 years of participation. These beneficiaries experienced increased income, improved farming practices, and enhanced land productivity, including reduced soil erosion, restored cultivation areas, and higher crop yields. Beneficiaries with 5 years of involvement saw significant increases in ROI (from 16.54% to 147.81%), net income (from PhP5,504.45 to PhP45,724.45), and overall income (from PhP42,979.35 to PhP94,095.64). Similarly, 4-year, 3-year, and 2-year participants experienced notable improvements in ROI, net income, and overall income, with significant statistical results. On the other hand, only minimal changes with no significant impact on ROI and net income in the production were observed with 1-year participants. The study found that prolonged participation in the program was associated with higher income, but further analysis using more robust statistical methods is needed to determine the actual drivers of income changes. Based on the findings, recommendations include provision of additional support on manpower or financial assistance on the first year to ensure crop survival; evaluation of the suitability of the research design and methodologies employed for future researches; and formulation and implementation of strategic adaptation and upscaling plan for the SLRMA.