Antique’s 8th FITS center launched in Hamtic

By Arlene Edna La Vega
RACG Representative
OPA Antique

The long wait is over.

The Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center in Hamtic, Antique was finally launched on June 10, 2009. Becoming the eighth center in the province, FITS Hamtic now belongs with Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, Sibalom, Barbaza, Pandan, Libertad and the Antique Provincial FITS.

Witnessing the launch were guests from Aklan State University (ASU) headed by Regional Techno Gabay Coordinator Anna Mae Relingo; Consortium Director of the Western Visayas Agricultural Resource Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) Prof. Joseph Idemne and staff; Polytechnic State College of Antique (PSCA) President Victor Navarra and staff, Mr. Nicolasito S. Calawag, provincial agriculturist; Hon. Julius Ll. Pacificador, mayor of Hamtic; and Noel Seguerra, Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member for agriculture.

The event included an opening program, signing of memorandum of agreement (MOA), ribbon-cutting, unveiling of FITS billboard and blessing of the FITS Center—all events witnessed by the farmers from different barangays of Hamtic.

Welcoming the guests and participants, Mayor Julius Pacificador said that the launching of the FITS Center is a great event in Hamtic because it will greatly help the farmers and fisher folks. Pacificador said that together with the Sangguniang Bayan Members they will strongly support the program to make it successful.

Dr. Anna Mae Relingo recognized the efforts of the staff of the Antique Provincial FITS Center and the PSCA as the Partner-Member Agency (PMA) who take the lead in the realization of the FITS establishment in Hamtic.

Municipal Agriculture Officer (MAO) Merla Manabat presented three farmers who are prospect for evaluation as Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) for Hamtic. Herminia Buenabiles was identified for banana chips while Orlando Nolada and Manuel Matandac were singled out for rice and diversified farming.

SB Member Noel Seguerra also said, “The newly launched FITS Center will serve as a venue wherein the farmers, fisher folks and other clients could benefit from the IEC materials that the center provided.”

PSCA President Navarra thanked the Municipality of Hamtic for hosting the FITS Center in Antique. He said that the launching of Hamtic FITS Center is another effort to strengthen linkages & extension programs in the province and the region.