CapSU FITS Center personnel publish brochures

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University

On May 16–17, 2012, some 20 personnel from the seven Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Centers monitored by the Capiz State University (CapSU), including managers, information services specialists and technology services specialists, joined the IEC Materials Workshop for FITS Center Managers, ISS and TSS at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) Capiz FITS Center at Mabini and Bilbao Streets in Roxas City.

INFORM, EDUCATE, COMMUNICATE

(Clockwise from top left) CapSU's Dr. Cora Navarra shares pointers on how to best package IEC materials; OPA Capiz FITS Center Manager Audie Belargo lectures on IECs to  fellow FITS center personnel; TSS Ulysses Bendicio of President Roxas FITS Center; Panay FITS Center Manager Juan Hecita, Jr.; Jamindan FITS Center's Lota Vijar; Dao FITS Center's Genes Estialbo and Susan Dordas; and TSS Teresita Badilla and ISS Bernie Protacio of Dumalag FITS Center.

It featured the expertise of its own FITS Center personnel, Mr. Audie Belargo, senior aquaculturist detailed at the OPA Capiz FITS Center, who lectured on IEC materials preparation and shared pointers on how to publish readable brochures. For two days, participants were taught the basic concepts of IEC materials and were also taught basic skills in using Microsoft Publisher, a user-friendly software which can be maximized by any user for dektop publishing.

Representatives from CapSU's seven FITS Centers joined the seminar, including the personnel of CapSU Mambusao FITS Center, which is monitored by the Philippine Coconut Authority. Led by Manager Ronelyn de Tomas, Dumalag FITS Center came with five participants including Bernie Protacio, information services specialist; Teresita Badilla, technology services specialist; and Gerlie Catalan and Christine Alvero, staff. Three personnel from Jamindan FITS Center, namely: Mary Grace Llanera, Ma. Lota Vijar and Ma Glenda Castro; Ulysses Bendecio and Marjorie Fuentes represented President Roxas FITS Center; while FITS Center Manager Juanito Hecita, Jr. and Editha Dollete represented the Panay FITS Center. Susan Villar, Jonedel Buhat and Fely Bermudo represented Ivisan FITS Center. Dr. Raul Ticar, CapSU's director for extension; TSS Ceferino Lizada, and ISS Rector John Latoza represented CapSU Mambusao FITS Center.

Participants from eight FITS Centers maximize the opportunity to enhance their skills which they can apply in their respective offices. The training team was joined by Mr. Antonio Llorente (top, far left), Agriculturist II of the Agricultural Training Institute Region 6 based in Banga, Aklan.

Dr. Cora F. Navarra, former coordinator of the Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG) of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) shared input on preparing IECs like brochures and flyers. She also gave tips on how to best package the said materials.  

On the second day, Belargo was joined by RACG Coordinator Navarra and CapSU Extension’s Niño Manaog in the critique of the output by the participants. The Dumalag and CapSU Mambusao FITS centers submitted profiles of their respective Magsasaka Siyentista (MS). In particular, ISS Bernie Protacio designed a threefold brochure featuring MS Randy Fancubila's engineered bamboo initiatives and livelihood prospects for his cooperative members; while ISS Rector John Latoza produced a brochure highlighting MS Pio Vergabera's coconut production technologies. Susan Dordas of Dao FITS Center prepared a brochure promoting their four-in-one organic concentrate produced by their farmers led by their TSS Genes Estialbo. The FITS Centers of Ivisan, President Roxas, Jamindan and Panay submitted their municipal agricultural profiles.

According to Eduardo Navarra, Techno Gabay Team Leader, Capiz State University (CapSU) has designed the said capability building initiative not only to enhance the skills of their personnel but also to draw input materials which can be used to disseminate information and technologies across the province. The materials submitted during the workshop will be fine-tuned and will be widely disseminated as IEC materials, Navarra said.

The facilitators and participants of the capability building initiative by CapSU Techno Gabay Team.