CapSU Techno Gabay helps high school researchers

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University

Starting them young, starting them now.

This is how Mr. Eduardo Navarra, Techno Gabay Team Leader of the Capiz State University, phrases it, referring to the advocacy of promoting organic farming practices and natural farming systems to the high school students—who he believes can be their “fellow advocates” of organic farming.

On July 6, 2012, Navarra took part in the Training on Current Trends in Organic Agriculture & Vermicomposting hosted by Ms. Lorelei Legada, Research Adviser, at the Science Laboratory Room of Mambusao National High School in Brgy. Tumalalud, Mambusao, Capiz.

STARTING THEM YOUNG

Through the initiative of Ms. Lorie Legada (far left), TG Team Leader Eduardo Navarra (second from left) lectured on organic farming practices and promoted vermi-composting to senior students of Mambusao National High School in Tumalalud, Mambusao, Capiz. Navarra encouraged the next batch of high school researchers to take on the research projects seriously so they could also win in the national competitions this year.

In a whole-day lecture to some 30 senior high school students of Research, Navarra stressed on the importance of organic agriculture, bringing samples of indigenous microorganisms and foliar fertilizer for students to see and potentially use in their research.

Around the same time last year, Navarra started his voluntary consultancy services to Tumalalud National High School students on vermiculture, coordinating with their Research Adviser Loreli Legada and working with the students on their vermiculture project. In particular, Navarra prepared and produced vermicompost for the students to study. One senior class under Research packaged their project titled “Growth of African Night Crawlers on Indigenous Substrates and Chemical Characteristics of their Vermicomposts” which won a regional award given by DepEd.

In January 2012, the same students research was cited in the Research 2012: Flashpoint: Igniting the Nation’s Next Wave of Innovations sponsored by the Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

This year, through the initiative of their Research Adviser Legada, Navarra once again lectured on organic farming practices and promoted vermi-composting to the new batch of high school researchers and challenged them to pursue the research projects seriously so they could also win in the national competitions this year.

YOUNG AND ORGANIC

Senior students of Mambusao National High School in Tumalalud, Mambusao, Capiz take stock of the sample indigenous microorganisms brought by Mr. Navarra.

CapSU Techno Gabay promote programs, technos on radio, TV

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University

The wider the coverage, the better.

To promote the Techno Gabay program of the Capiz State University and disseminate technologies to more farmers and agriculture enthusiasts in the province of Capiz, members of the Techno Gabay Team of the Capiz State University (CapSU) invaded the local airwaves recently as part of their advocacy initiatives.

TECHNO GABAY PROMOTES VERMICOMPOSTING ON DUMALAG CABLE TV
Eduardo Navarra shares pointers with TV host Amy Almosa and to the audience on vermi-composting including technologies involved in earthworms for productivity in the farms.

Mr. Eduardo Navarra, CapSU’s Techno Gabay Team Leader, led the mass media campaign in June 2012. On June 19, Navarra shared to televiewers on the vermiculture practices on Palabra de Honor, a weekly TV magazine hosted by Amy Almosa and aired on Spaceport CATV based in Poblacion, Dumalag, Capiz. Spaceport CATV is owned by Othello Navarra.

On June 13, Niño Manaog, University Extension Associate, led the Promotion of Extension Services and Techno Gabay Programs on “Impormasyon” on Alto Cable TV produced and hosted by Engr. Julius Abela and co-hosted by Amy Almosa. In a one-hour interview at the Alto Cable TV Station on Fuentes Drive, Roxas City, Manaog promoted CapSU’s Extension Services and the Techno Gabay Program on a primetime cable TV program with province-wide subscription.

On June 24 and July 1, Navarra also led the promotion of Indigenous Microorganisms (IMOs) technologies over the Agricultural Training Institute’s School on the Air over Radio Mindanao Network (RMN)’s DYVR-AM. Hosted by Teddy Buenvenida of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) in Capiz on Mabini and Bilbao Streets, Roxas City, Navarra provided technology practices on preparing indigenous microorganisms and bio nutrients. He also advocated organic farming practices.

WV extension workers study projects implementation, monitoring

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University

To teach the extension workers of its member agencies on designing, packaging and sustaining their projects, the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) Region 6 hosted the Seminar Workshop on Implementing Extension Projects in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) on June 25–27, 2012 at the San Antonio Resort in Brgy. Baybay in Roxas City.

The participants, key officials and facilitators of the training workshop

According to Dr. Greta Gabinete, chairperson of the PASUC 6’s Extension Management Council (EMC) and lead convener, the workshop was designed to teach the participants on how to identify extension projects in the communities; package them effectively and sustain their implementation through effective monitoring and evaluation schemes.

Dr. Editha Magallanes

CAPSU HOSTS

Welcoming some 50 participants from 11 member SUCs in the opening program, Dr. Editha Magallanes, president of Capiz State University (CapSU), encouraged extension workers to take stock of the capability-building opportunity. According to Magallanes, extension is a mandate of the SUCs but it is not their sole responsibility.

While sourcing out funds for projects may prove difficult, linkage with appropriate government agencies “we have to establish linkages with government agencies like Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Training Institute and even the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). This will help facilitate the implementation of initiatives for livelihood and similar other activities for the target communities.

To identify the relevance of the SUCs’ projects, Magallanes pointed out the importance of technology and training needs assessment in the target communities which will appropriately meet their needs and concerns. And stressing the importance of packaging information, education and communication (IEC) materials the projects, Magallanes encouraged the representatives of SUCs to properly document and package technologies before dissemination and to monitor their respective projects documentation.

Playing host to the event, Capiz State University took active part in the capability building initiative. Led by Director Raul Ticar, CapSU’s Extension Services was represented by its extension chairpersons from across eight CapSU campuses, namely: Dr. Sylvia Ozaraga of Dumarao; For. Wilfredo Abogadie of Burias; Prof. Edna Glory of Tapaz; Prof. Gemma Angelias of Roxas City; Prof. Ginalyn Obien of Sigma; Prof. Joselito Sitjar of Dayao; Prof. Maddy Gallardo of Sapian; Prof. Virginia Cabales of Poblacion Mambusao.

A POOL OF EXPERTS

The workshop featured the expertise of resource speakers from a national government agency and PASUC 6’s member SUCs. Dr. Evelyn Aro-Esquejo, deputy director for policy and administration at the Agricultural Training Institute lectured on the project development cycle and the preparation of log-frame, which is used in designing effective proposals. Esquejo also taught the participants on sustaining the projects by way of designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation.

Prof. Edwin Villaruz, vice-chairman of PASUC 6’s EMC and director for alumni and external relations at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) shared concepts and insights on resource mobilization & networking; while Eduardo Ortega, faculty of the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) shed light on community organizing, which is deemed essential to determining the success of the projects directed in the communities.

In the last day’s session, Prof. Edel Carmela Subong, faculty at the communications department of WVSU, provided tips on the art of project documentation and related skills.

THEY HEARD, THEY LEARNED

The seminar-workshop drew a number of feedbacks from the participants. Carol Joy Palma Remaneses, extension coordinator at the Aklan State University said that the workshop only “affirmed what we are doing in our university.” While their projects are prolific with documentation, Palma confides that “we also need to train ourselves on how to package the documentation” of these projects. Currently the chair of ASU’s nursing program, Palma considered that monitoring and evaluation is also equally important.

Dr. Melinda Iran, who has been extension director of the University of Antique since 2006 valued the content and extent of the topics covered by the workshop, saying that they are applicable to extension work and are aptly needed by the participants. However, Iran wished that “we need more time to learn the topics discussed to cover more and finish our actual output.” For his part, Prof. Arsenio Montaño, Jr. extension chair at the WVCST in Iloilo City, commended the knowledgeable resource speakers who generously shared their expertise to them.

Dr. Benny Palma

 SUCs AS NICHES

Dr. Benny Palma, chairperson of PASUC 6 and outgoing president of CHMSC, zeroed in on the importance of properly starting and continuously sustaining extension projects. Saying that SUCs must be identified as centers or niches of particular commodities, technologies or services, Palma encouraged the participants to package their projects according to the niches identified for their particular institutions.

After showing examples of potential products and technologies that can be produced and provide livelihood to the target communities, Palma urged extension workers to develop it, bank on it and “you will be rewarded.”

Begun in 2009, PASUC 6 EMC designs capability-building initiatives to enhance the skills of the extension workers of its member SUCs including Northern Negros College of Science and Technology (NONESCOST); Aklan State University; Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College; Western Visayas College of Science and Technology; West Visayas State University; Guimaras State College; University of Antique; Iloilo State College of Fisheries; Negros State College of Agriculture; and Carlos Hilado Memorial State College.

Dao FITS Center trains President Roxas farmers, teachers on organic farming

On July 25–26, 2012, some 20 participants consisting of farmers, teachers and residents of President Roxas, Capiz were taught organic farming practices by the personnel of the Dao Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center during the Training in Vegetable Production Using Natural Farming System held at the Agricultural Training Center of the President Roxas FITS Center in Brgy. Cabugcabug, President Roxas, Capiz.

In the first day of the training, Manager Susan Dordas and Technology Services Specialist Genes Estialbo of the Dao FITS Center shared valuable information through lectures on Republic Act 10068, otherwise known as the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 and the Natural Farming Systems. In particular, Dordas promoted to the participants the harmful effects of conventional farming, while Estialbo stressed on the importance and the convenience of adopting natural farming systems in the farms.

DAO ORGANICS ADVOCATES INVADE PRESIDENT ROXAS.

Supported by the local government represented by SB Committee on Agriculture Chairman Bernardo Loretizo, Dao FITS Center’s Susan Dordas and Genes Estialbo promote organic farming practices as far as their fellow FITS Center in President Roxas, Capiz during the latter’s sponsored organic training workshop in July 2012.

In the second day, the facilitators personally guided the teachers and farmers in preparing concoctions. Participants prepared fish amino acid, fermented plant juice, oriental herbal nutrient and calcium phosphate. According to Dordas, they also prepared bioorganic pesticides including organic conditioner, herbal extracts spray and organic herbal extracts which help in increasing the productivity in their vegetable yields.

After this batch which consisted of teachers and enthusiasts in charge of their school vegetable gardens, the next batch of organic training designed for rice farmers will be conducted by the same Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center before the second cropping within the year.

The livelihood and skills training initiative was led by Leonardo Barcenas, manager of the President Roxas FITS Center and their personnel, namely: Ulysses Bendicio, Annabelle Dorado and Joseph Beltran, all agricultural technologists.  

The advocacy on organic farming production is likewise supported by the Capiz State University under the leadership of President Editha L. Magallanes. Through its Techno Gabay Program led by Team Leader Eduardo Navarra, CapSU continually advocates indigenous backyard technologies that will help augment the income of ordinary rural folk and help address the poverty in the countryside.

CapSU is one of the 18 partner member agencies that help assist seven FITS centers across the Province of Capiz in partnership with the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) operating under the auspices of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

Partnerships for Progress

Plan Int’l, PhilDHRRA, CapSU assess Food Facility Project

By Niño Manaog, Extension Associate, Capiz State University

With reports from Corazon Ditarro, Mae Demontaño and Marty Delfin

After 18 months of rigorous implementation, the Productive Capacity Improvement of Civil Society Groups in the Philippine Agricultural Sector and Establishment of Safety Net Measures against Volatile Food Prices, briefly known as the Food Facility Project (FFP) initiated by Plan International ended in October 2011.

Funded by the European Commission (EU), the FFP was undertaken by the said nongovernment organization through the assistance the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in the Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA) and the Agricultural Engineering Department of the Capiz State University Pontevedra Campus in Bailan, Pontevedra, Capiz.

According to Project Officer Susan Calaor sustaining the project initiated in 21 communities in the province of Capiz “was a major challenge given the time frame of implementation.”

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

Engr. Corazon Ditarro (top left) help farmers groups write the lessons learned from Plan International’s FFP; while and Ms. Mae Demontaño and Marty Delfin (lower left) document the proceedings.

In less than two years, “our partnership has tried to install sustainability mechanisms in terms of systems and structures at the barangay and municipal levels and all of us are hoping that these will be sustained even beyond the project,” Calaor said.

To help identify the lessons learned by the stakeholders in the project’s implementation which can guide future undertakings, Plan International assisted by PhilDHRRA and CapSU Pontevedra’s Agricultural Engineering Department hosted a Lessons Learned Workshop on October 6–7, 2011 at the Villa Consorcia Resort in barangay Malag-it, Pontevedra, Capiz.

Said workshop convened the farmer beneficiaries to update the partners on the status of the project after 18 months of implementation. In the two-day closing activity, the major stakeholders identified the gaps in sustaining the project and their respective roles of partners and ways to move forward beyond the Food Facility Project.

Representing Capiz State University, the partner academic institution who actively pitched in for the Food Facility Project, Engr. Corazon Ditarro and Engr. Marty Delfin of the Agricultural Engineering Department helped facilitate the sessions led by the Plan International personnel led by Plan’s Susan Calaor and Lea Escantilla of PhilDHRRA. Ms. Maria Mae Demontaño of CapSU Pontevedra’s College of Education documented the workshop’s proceedings. 

Lessons Learned

Ms. Evelyn Vega, chairman of the United Men and Women for Agricultural and Fishery Development (Umwad) - Pilar, Inc., shared that humbleness always helps to succeed in this endeavor. For Vega, there are still a lot of challenges to overcome in the future, but it is best to continue the best practices that work while learning from the lessons and mistakes from the past.

Melanie de la Cruz, director of the Maayon Community-Based Agricultural Development Organization (MCBADO) said that some of the respondents did not tell the truth about their economic status, so the objectivity of the indigence of the beneficiaries can never be exactly validated. During the organization personal priorities like children, housekeeping, framing, livelihood activities conflicted with the schedule of the activities, so it was recommended that regular attendance in meetings by cluster leaders be encouraged, through good rapport.

De La Cruz said that it is hard to please everybody—because despite the systematic procedures used in organizing the community, some people were dissatisfied. De la Cruz encouraged beneficiaries and leaders who attend seminars and training from their barangay to echo their learning to their constituents. There is a need to share the knowledge, and practice communication skills by transmitting ideas and learning’s to those who lack knowledge about the organization.

For their part, Mr. Lito Nisnisan, agricultural technologist at Pontevedra’s Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMA) suggested ways on how to overcome challenges about the indifferences that may come along the way. According to Nisnisan, the council is the right channel to help to support and justify the efforts made by the project implementers.

After the formal turnover of the project to the barangay, Pontevedra Fishers and Farmers Agricultural Development Organization (PFiFADO), Inc., United Men and Women for Agricultural and Fishery Development (Umwad) - Pilar, Inc. and Maayon Community-Based Agricultural Development Organization (MCBADO) will run their own programs thru the collaborative effort of the officials and member beneficiaries. To plan out the course of action to be taken to sustain the project, the farmers’ organizations were asked to consider “the dreams of the organization in the next 3 years.”

Local government officials also took part in the drawing of insights from the project. Pontevedra MHO said that her attendance in the workshop made her more aware of the importance and collaborative efforts of the different sectors.

Personnel from the Pontevedra’s Social Work and Development Office also said that Plan International is commendable because its projects were implemented and the people benefited. She said the beneficiaries deserved the benefits of the project and; because the beneficiaries have already been empowered, it is their responsibility to sustain what had been started. She urged the people to commit to sustain the project to create impact in their lives and their communities.

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

Plan International’s Susan Calaor (far right) guides the farmer leaders on how to best maximize the projects and facilities downloaded to them as beneficiaries of the Food Facility Project.

Interestingly, a participant told the group of a story about a tribe who used to sit by the campfire every night as a community. There came a time when they stopped this tradition because they already learned to buy and use appliances. Since electricity became available to them, they used up bulbs instead of the usual fire. According to him, the story resembles that of Plan International. There will come a time when no story teller will be present anymore because life will have been modernized. The storyteller said that the old idea should not be forgotten even in the modern age because farming is the indispensable, alternative way to solve today’s many problems brought about by modern technology.

Summing up the participation of the CapSU Pontevedra’s Agricultural Engineering Department, Engr. Corazon Ditarro, encouraged the community that “we are mandated to perform formal instruction inside the classrooms, but we extend to the community, we cater to adults and out-of-school youth (OSY).

Having worked with Plan International for more than a year, Ditarro cited the lessons they learned. Among others, Ditarro commended and sought to continue the camaraderie and commitment of the members, always maintain patience. Ditarro said that the project would not end when the Plan International exited in October 2011.

Rather, the action and advocacy plans laid out by the three farmers groups in the series of capability building workshops will work out in their respective municipalities.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANK YOU.
Members of the three farmers organizations, namely: Pontevedra Fishers and Farmers Agricultural Development Organization (PFiFADO), Inc., the Maayon Community-Based Agricultural Development Organization (MCBADO) and the United Men and Women For Agricultural and Fishery Development (UMWAD) - Pilar, Inc., along with their local government officials, wave hands to express their gratitude, support and commitment to Plan International’s Food Facility Project which was turned over to their LGUs in October 2011. CapSU Pontevedra’s Agricultural Engineering Department helped facilitate said project.

WV personnel officers gather for 3rd regional congress

The Western Visayas Regional Council of Personnel Officers (RCPO) together with the Civil Service Commission will hold the 3rd Human Resource Management Practitioners Regional Congress on August 23–24, 2012 at the Kapis Mansions in Brgy. Banica, Roxas City. The Capiz Council of Personnel Officers will host the event.

Themed “Leaping Towards Empowered Human Resource Management Practitioners,” the regional summit will convene some 350 human resource management practitioners composed of administrative officers, human resource management officers and personnel officers representing government agencies from across the Western Visayas.

Said agencies include the local government units (LGUs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), national government agencies (NGAs) and government financing institutions (GFIs) from all over the region.

According to Mr. Johnny Dariagan, RCPO president, this year’s gathering of HR managers and practitioners will feature a good array of input and content that will surely benefit the participants.

Among others, the congress will feature the expertise of Mr. Jerome Eslabra, who will engage the participants on Self-Empowerment. This session is designed to unlock the potentials of the individual worker as he relates to his colleagues and the workplace.

Participants will also enjoy seminars on health and wellness by Dir. Maria Lina Gonzaga, Civil Service Commission (CSC) Capiz director and gender and development (GAD) by Ms. Emmeline Verzosa, executive director of the Philippine Commission on Women. More important, the congress will update the participants on the Strategic Performance Management System (SPMS) and Strategic Programs to be led by Dir. Azucena Esleta, director of CSC’s Personnel Policies and Standards Office.

According to Ms. Alma Ravena, regional trustee and former RCPO president, “the content of the conference is so designed to involve participants’ individual personality and improvement and work toward social responsibility.

Also showcasing the best of Capiz culture and tourism, this regional event will be made possible through the efforts of CSC’s regional and provincial offices, the Province of Capiz, the Capiz State University (CapSU) and promoted by the Capiz Provincial Press Bureau.

KEY PERSONNEL
This year's personnel officers congress will be hosted in Roxas City
by the Capiz Council of Personnel Officers led by its president,
Mr. Johnny Dariagan (seated, fifth from left) of the Capiz State University.

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University