PCARRD reaffirms support to Central Visayas TGP implementation

The Techno Gabay Program (TGP) extends more of its information and technology services capabilities nationwide as it welcomed 19 more Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) or Techno Pinoy centers from the heart of the Visayas--- ““Republic of Bohol” last October 4-5.

The Techno Gabay Program (TGP) extends more of its information and technology services capabilities nationwide as it welcomed 19 more Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) or Techno Pinoy centers from the heart of the Visayas--- ““Republic of Bohol” last October 4-5.

Turnover of PCARRD Infokit: (From left to right) Dr. Virgie Lacuesta, representative from Negros Oriental State University, Dumaguete City; Ms. Concepcion Villamayor and Ms. Audrey Lapitan , PCARRD staff members; Hon. Mayor Henrietta Lim Gan (third from right) of Valencia, Bohol; Mr. Silvano Dajan, Municipal Agriculture Officer and Manager of FITS-Valencia; Dr. Jose Quitazol, Provincial Agriculture Officer of Tagbilaran City during the ceremonialturnover of the PCARRD kit and other information, education and communication materials.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Bohol headed by Ms. Liza Quirog, Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology staff, Central Visayas Consortium for Integrated Regional Research and Development (CV-CIRRD), and PCARRD representatives spearheaded the launching of the new FITS Centers. FITS managers, FITS staff, local government officials, municipal agriculturists, barangay captains, and farmers were also present during the launch and signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) among partner agencies.

The program started with a heart-warming welcome from the Boholanos. Dr. Arturo S. Argañosa and Ms. Audrey O. Lapitan from Technology Outreach and Promotion Division of PCARRD represented PCARRD Executive Director Patricio S. Faylon. They shared that PCARRD appreciates the efforts of the local government units to establish FITS centers in the province. Their messages highlighted the strong commitment of PCARRD to help improve farmers’ quality of life through provision of information and technologies. They also emphasized the importance of meeting the minimum resource requirements of a FITS center to ensure that the centers would serve their purpose as part of the TGP.

The two-day simultaneous FITS launching covered the following towns: Baclayon, Albuquerque, Valencia, Garcia-Hernandez, Jagna, Balilihan, Sagbayan, Dagohoy, Trinidad, Bien Unido, Bilar, Carmen, Pilar, Guindulman, Getafe, Buenavista, Inabanga, Clarin, and Calape. All newly launched FITS centers were each provided the PCARRD kit.

The launching of 19 FITS centers in Bohol set a record for CV-CIRRD as the consortium with the second biggest number of FITS Centers (39) next to CLARRDEC (41). To date, there are 262 FITS centers nationwide.