CapSU FITS centers on the move

By Niño S. Manaog

To prepare to achieve optimum performance as a partner member agency of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC), the Capiz State University (CapSU) Techno Gabay Team—led by Team Leader Eduardo Navarra, university extension specialist—led the second bimonthly meeting with the old and new Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Centers in the province of Capiz Feb. 23, 2011 at the FITS Center Dumalag in Poblacion, Dumalag, Capiz.

After Dr. Anna Mae Relingo, WESVARRDEC Regional Techno Gabay Group (RTGG) Coordinator briefed the participants on the consortium’s Techno Gabay modality, Navarra monitored the activities and updates of the managers from six attending FITS Centers.

Among others, FITS OPA Capiz Manager Audie Belargo shared to the group a sampling of IEC materials which his office churned out recently, while FITS Dao Manager Susan Dordas stressed on organic technologies being widely promoted and practiced in her municipality.

Meanwhile, Ivisan FITS Manager Letecia Andrada—being new to the WESVARRDEC family—sought to be oriented on the consortium and the Techno Gabay modality. Andrada came to the meeting with her prospective MS Roosevelt Villarde, and their Technology Services Specialist (TSS) and Information Services Specialist (ISS).

For his part, TG Team Leader Navarra announced that nominated MSs of the newly launched FITS centers will be pre-evaluated in the second week of March and will be formally evaluated by WESVARRDEC within the same month.

Mr. Roosevelt Villarde and his coco shell products are being recommended for FITS Ivisan; Mr. Restituto Babao, Jr. engaged in corn production is recommended by OPA Capiz; and Mr. Wilfredo Corcino of Dao is being endorsed for his natural farming system practice and organic technologies.

Both appointed in 2010, MS Randy Fancubila of Dumalag is engaged in bamboo engineering while MS Igmedio Llamelo of Jamindan is involved in abaca nursery and plantation.

Further, to prepare materials that can be used for the upcoming Techno Gabay summit in May 2011, the team agreed to hold an IEC writing workshop to be led by WESVARRDEC’s Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG) in the second week of April this year. In the proposed two-day writing workshop, to be attended by ISS and MS of each FITS, functional promotional materials on the MS and FITS products are expected to be published which shall be given out in the product exhibits in the May Techno Gabay Summit.

Before the meeting adjourned, Jamindan FITS Manager Remedios Llamelo acting in behalf of other FITS managers, moved to draft a resolution asking Congressman Baby Jane Castro of the second district of Capiz to donate one unit of multi-cab for each of the FITS centers.

The CapSU meeting was generously hosted and supported by FITS Center Dumalag led by FITS Manager Ronelyn de Tomas, TSS Teresita Badilla and ISS Bernie Protacio.