Around 400 participants from 25 universities across the Philippines were welcomed by the Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC) as part of the educational tour facilitated by the UP Society of Agricultural Engineering Students (SAGES) during the annual PAESTIGAN event last February 23, 2024.

PAESTIGAN, a portmanteau of PAES (Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards) and paastigan (a Filipino colloquial term referring to activities where participants are to show off their outstanding qualities and skills), is a yearly gathering of BS Agricultural Engineering/ Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering students from State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country. Founded in 2011, the event is composed of various activities aimed to enhance the students’ knowledge and skills in the field through competitions and educational tours.

As the premiere and reference testing center for agri-fishery machinery in the country, AMTEC was invited as a partner to the event by showcasing its technologies and operations. The Center is committed to providing instructional support by sharing its technical expertise among stakeholders, including SUCs.

The students toured around to some of the Center’s various testing setups. Assisted by the resident test engineers, they were briefed about the technologies utilized in testing agri-fishery machines in the laboratories and on the field.

This year’s PAESTIGAN was the first in four years, after its postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Apart from AMTEC, the students have also visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and UPLB’s Dairy Training Research Institute (DTRI).

The Center remained committed to providing technical assistance for all its stakeholders while maintaining its quality services. The event was considered instrumental in inspiring more advocates and aspiring practitioners who would hopefully contribute to the holistic success of agricultural mechanization in the country.