By Niño S. Manaog
University Extension Associate
Capiz State University
Most promising, indeed.
In the first Regional Techno Gabay (TG) Summit and Technomart of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) held on May 25–26, 2011 at the Amigo Plaza Mall in Iloilo City, the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in Dumalag, Capiz clinched the top prize for Best FITS Center. The FITS Center was launched only in May 2009.
Based on the citation, FITS Dumalag scored high in organization and management, delivery of FITS Services, maintenance of minimum requirements, and resource generation and linkage, four criteria announced by WESVARRDEC.Led by FITS Manager Ronelyn De Tomas, FITS Dumalag received a certificate of recognition and cash prize from WESVARRDEC Director Joseph Edward Idemne and TG Coordinator Anna Mae Relingo during the closing rites on May 26, 2011 at the same venue. They were joined by Capiz State University (CapSU) TG Team Leader Eduardo Navarra.
According to its 2010 Annual Report, the proactive leadership of Dumalag FITS Manager Ronelyn de Tomas fully supported by the staff and the dynamic involvement of Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Randy Fancubila helped render services to some 3,500 farmers for the past year.
FITS Manager De Tomas attributes the achievement to the support of their local government led by Municipal Mayor Lilia Castro and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Capiz. Since its launch in May 2009, the Center conducted extensive trainings and activities for the Dumalag Bamboocraft Producers Cooperative (DBPC), a 28-member organization led by MS Randy Fancubila, in order to take bigger steps to improving the bamboo technologies in the municipality
WESVARRDEC’s appointment of Randy Fancubila as MS for engineered bamboo in 2010 helped usher in the effective and efficient services by the Center for the year.
In the same event, the Capiz State University booth also featured MS Fancubila’s engineered bamboo table, trophies and bamboo planks, much to the curiosity and delight of walk-in visitors. The CapSU team also brought the abaca ropes and woven materials from FITS Jamindan and abaca plant sampled from the farm of MS Igmedio Llamelo, among others.
For two days, managers and staff from FITS centers based in Dumalag, Jamindan, Dao and Ivisan, all of Capiz manned the CapSU booth, promoted their products to walk-in visitors and attended the MS and technology forums sponsored by WESVARRDEC.
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| Awardees and officials share the best moment of FITS Dumalag's achievement. |
