WESVARRDEC assesses Capiz FITS centers

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University

To assess the performance of the seven Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) centers across the province of Capiz, the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC), led by Dr. Reynaldo Dusaran, Regional Techno Transfer coordinator, conducted the Techno Gabay Meeting for said farmers centers on Dec. 12–13, 2012 at the Urban Manor Hotel in Lawaan, Roxas City.

Gathering some 20 personnel representing said FITS centers, the meeting sought to determine their performance in Techno Gabay, PCAARRD’s banner program which was sought to bring science-based information and technology services to end users in the agriculture, forestry and natural resources (AFNR) sectors.

For two days, information services specialists (ISS), technology services specialists (TSS) and managers of FITS Centers actively provided feedback to the WESVARRDEC panel led by Dr. Dusaran and assisted by Ms. Salvacion Villasis, Regional Applied Communication Group (RACG) Coordinator.

Led by the CapSU Techno Gabay Team headed by Mr. Eduardo Navarra, the meeting was backed by Deodith Honrado and Ernesto Nillos, WESVARRDEC staff.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the orientation provided by Ms. Jinah Obordo, Techno Gabay focal person of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), who briefed the participants on the particular Techno Gabay components transferred to the ATI.

This year, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) formally turned over the management of FITS centers to the ATI.

On October 18, 2012, selected components of Techno Gabay Program (TGP) were delegated to the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) in a formal turnover at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center in Makati City. The Western Visayas was represented by Dr. Noeni Nepomuceno, wesvarrdec director and Dr. Allan Alimodian, outgoing director of DA-ATI 6.

Under the new arrangement, PCAARRD through WESVARRDEC and CapSU, will be left with providing IEC support services to the FITS Centers. Said offices will also manage the FITS IS and the ICT services. In particular, PCAARRD will serve as Vice-Chair to the National Technical Working Committee.

For its part, DA ATI will prepare guidelines based on IRR re establishment of FITS, and appointment of MS. It will handle communications and memorandum of Agreement with CapSU and WESVARRDEC. ATI is also tasked to assess PMAs, FITS centers and MSs based on the report by PCAARRD. This will include renewal and new appointments of MSs. ATI will also manage the monitoring and evaluation system including all possible required reports.

As the new manager of the FITS Centers, ATI will conduct briefings to FITS Centers with PMAs in partnership with Consortia; organize Regional Technical Working Committee and advocate for the establishment of the new FITS Centers. It will also hold meetings and dialogues with RTGCs, PMAs and FITS Centers. More important, ATI will provide continuous extension services with FITS Centers in partnership with PMAs. These will include regular trainings, IEC- and ICT-related trainings, ICT Literacy trainings, e-Learning administration, techno-clinic, provision of IEC materials, among many others.

In other words, all FITS Centers launched under PCAARRD’s Techno Gabay—which includes all fits centers from Capiz—will be largely managed by the ATI.

In her closing speech, Vice-President for Research and Extension Cora Navarra of the Capiz State University encouraged activity and participation of the FITS Centers and cooperation between them and the partner member agency.

Facilitators and participants of the TG assessments
led by WESVARRDEC and the CapSU Techno Gabay Team and supported by ATI