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Information
and technology services in agriculture, forestry, and natural resources
(AFNR) are now more accessible to the farmers of Palawan, Quezon,
and Marinduque with the launch of the four new Techno Pinoy or Farmers’
Information and Technology Services (FITS) centers in these provinces.
The Southern
Tagalog Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium
(STARRDEC) opened a FITS center in General Nakar, Quezon last 12
January 2007. This is in cooperation with the Social Action Center-Northern
Quezon (SAC-NQ), a socio-civic organization. The center is located
at the Mt. Carmel School in General Nakar. FITS SAC-NQ is led by
Mr. Aladino Reguyal.
FITS Roxas in
Roxas, Palawan was relaunched last 28 March. The center is under
the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist, led by Municipal Agriculture
Officer Edgar Padul who will also act as the FITS manager.
Also in Palawan,
FITS-Western Philippines University (WPU), Aborlan was launched
last 30 March. Esperanza Aya, head of the WPU Research Department
serves as the FITS manager.
Like WPU, Marinduque
State College (MSC), another member agency of STARRDEC, opened a
FITS center. The launching was held last 10 May at MSC Torrijos.
Ma. Tessa Llaguno, Regional Applied Communications Office (RACO)
representative of MSC is also appointed as the FITS manager.
At present,
STARRDEC has 16 FITS centers, of which four are K-Agrinet sites,
eight are Enhancement sites, and four are the newly established.
STARRDEC plans to launch additional FITS centers this year.
Despite the
geographical spread of Region IV, STARRDEC, with the help of its
22 member agencies and the FITS centers, continues to fulfill its
commitment to serve the information and technology needs of the
farmers, stakeholders, and other potential clients. (Amy Melissa
B. Malaluan, STARRDEC)
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