TAM-AN AGRITECH: A HISTORY OF PERSISTENCY

“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.” -ROBERT JORDAN-

Tam-an Agritech Tourism and Training Center, Inc. was once a thought, translated into ideas and plans, blueprinted then manifested into reality through the blessed works of many hands.

Over 35 years ago, one man envisioned putting up an institution to eradicate poverty and model the good that good governance could create. Part of his dream was to establish an association, later registered as a cooperative that started with 25 members and a capital of Php25, 000. Fast forward to today, the humble cooperative we now know as Tam-an Banaue Multipurpose Cooperative has grown its regular and associate membership to over 350, 000 with 84 branches and 19 allied businesses spread in 13 Provinces and 4 Regions, with assets of beyond 8.2 Billion, even having been declared first billionaire cooperative in Region 02.

As the CEO succeeded in putting up cooperative that aims to build a better future together with its valued members, he pursued on putting up a Technical-Vocational school. Not all believes it could be possible, especially since he wanted it for free access for learners. But this visionary man is relentlessly resilient. He is literally stubborn – what is unattainable to many, he proves attainable. He proved his worth, having built a successful cooperative; and he strongly believes – without a tint of doubt – that this dream of free education will be realized as well. With his noble intention and prayer to bring equal opportunity to unserved who are deprived to take a formal education, coupled with perspiration, persistence and perseverance, and tons of patience and strong faith, he succeeded, proving what was seemingly impossible to many as possible.

He did it!

In 2017, the Tam-an Agritech Tourism and Training Center building was built. Being in operation for over Eight years now, it saw over 5, 000 graduates in various competencies.

The success of Tam-an Agritech Tourism and Training Center is credited to not a few people without generous help, the school would noT have existed.

At the time when the school could hardly be registered, it was Senator Cynthia Villar who extended her full support and guided the cooperative officers until Agritech finally has the license to operate. The then CEO met Senator Cynthia Villar in 2015 during the ‘Villar Sipag Award’ ceremonies where the Senator herself awarded the top performing cooperatives of which Tam-an BMPC was an awardee. It was in the following year that the building which houses the administration office of the school was built through the funding efforts of COOP NATCCO Congressman Anthony Bravo.

Indeed, God’s time is the right time. He sets things into place. When this man strongly knew what he wanted and he wanted it badly enough, he made way and the universe conspired to bring him the same.

Although the success of putting up the school was achieved, the challenges continued. The man who envisioned to put up the Technical Vocational school now has become the School President. As he pushed to offer free education to the school’s would-be trainees, he lobbied public officials from representatives to senators, requesting for scholarship for the trainees. And he succeeded. His commitment and untiring labor bore fruits. Several representatives and senators supported his cause and continued giving their support year after year.

Not everyone knows what motivated the visionary man to put up a technical-vocational school and passionately lobby for scholarship slots and funds to keep the school operational. Not many knew why he kept serving the undeserved in order to help them acquire their desired skills and put up the livelihood they wished for so they uplift their standard of living.

In his tender years, this man has to work just so he could finish elementary. He has to labor for his education to finish high school, the highest educational attainment he had in formal schooling. Despite being deprives of pursuing higher education due to poverty, he continues learning by himself. He did not stop acquiring the necessary skills he needed to pursue what he wanted. As he describes himself, he was a graduate of “Bachelor of Science in Accountancy by imagination…Bachelor of Science in Engineering by practice…and PHD – Puro Hirap and Dinanas.”

Truly as Jim Rohn said, “Formal education makes you living. Self-education makes you a fortune.” For this reason, he is dedicated to providing free education to those who did not finish formal education. Being blessed with the fortune of abundance, his heart is for the undeserved to find their fortune through Tam-an Agritech.

With this experience that became his best teacher, Jose “Tam-an” Tomas Sr. did not only run the coop for over 29 years nor did he only oversee Tam-an Agritech Tourism and Training Center, Inc. for over two years, he also served as the Vice-Governor of the Province of Nueva Vizcaya. Despite this, he continues to give his full support to both the cooperative and the school.

Having been elected as a public official in 2019, he left the baton of leadership to then cooperative Chief Operation Officer, Jose B. Tomas Jr., JD who is now handling affairs of Agritech as the School President and Tam-an BMPC as its CEO.

Tam-an Agri-tech Tourism and Training Center, Inc., located in Purok 6, Brgy. Busilac, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, is a registered technical-vocational training institution with the vision of providing inclusive, entrepreneurial, and technical education to marginalized and underserved communities, including farmers, Indigenous People, unemployed individuals, repatriated OFWs, and rebel returnees. As an accredited training and assessment center by TESDA, Tam-an Agri-tech Tourism and Training Center, Inc. offers a range of agricultural and agri-enterprise courses, and technical courses including Agricultural Crops Production, Animal Production, Organic Agriculture production, Driving NC II, Automotive Servicing NC I, Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II, Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II, and has pioneered the first private Mobile Training Program (MTP) serving all municipalities of Nueva Vizcaya.

The center is also recognized by the Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Training Institute (DA‑ATI) as an Extension Service Provider, Learning Site for Agriculture, and Demo Farm, while the Department of Tourism (DOT) accredits it as a Farm Tourism Site. These designations reflect Tam-an Agri-tech Tourism and Training Center, Inc.’s role not only in technical education but also in agri-tourism, sustainable development, and community empowerment. Through Tam-an BMPC’s extensive operations—including financial services, agribusiness, community programs, and member support—the cooperative serves thousands of active members provincewide and maintains significant assets that enable the continuous expansion of social enterprises and training programs.

Tam-an Agri-Tech Tourism and Training Center, Inc. operates with a dedicated team of 14 full-time employees, including farmhands, livestock caretakers, administrative staff, and seven on-call trainers specializing in various technical qualifications. Together, they have trained over 5,000 graduates who are now skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and self-employed farm practitioners thriving locally and abroad.