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Bicol K-AgriNet info
caravan goes on despite ‘Caloy’ |
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Legazpi
City, Albay – Torrential rains and strong winds brought by
typhoon ‘Caloy’ did not dampen the spirits of the K-AgriNet
(Knowledge Networking Towards Enterprising Agricultural Communities)
team from finishing the last leg of its information and communications
technology (ICT) caravan in the Bicol Region in this city on May
11.
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The
team braved the early warnings of the storm and joined the foot parade
and street revelry of Legazpi City’s Magayon Festival, where
the Agri-Fiesta, a farmer and fisherfolk celebration, was part of.
Incidentally,
K-AgriNet’s opening ceremony and ICT capability training were
part of the fiesta’s highlights.
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for the first time since the start of the caravan, the yellow ICT
bus (Department of Science and Technology [DOST] Region 4’s)
did not hit the road and stayed put at Albay Astrodome’s parking
lot. Its conspicuous color, a stark contrast to the overcast skies,
caught the curiosity of bystanders as it waited for its farmer-clients.
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Farmer-fisherfolk
fest
During the festival’s opening ceremony, PCARRD’s acting
deputy executive director for Institution Development and Resource
Management (IDRM), Richard M. Juanillo, joined Albay’s top officials,
headed by Albay Governor Fernando V. Gonzales, at the provincial capitol.
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Another
interesting highlight of the fiesta was the mass oath taking and awarding
ceremonies of Legazpi’s farmer groups and outstanding farmers
later during the day.
Director Juanillo, who administered the oath, said
in his speech: “Ito ay isang pagkilala sa mga gawain ng mga
magsasaka para mapaunlad ang pagsasaka at pagpapakita sa ibang rehiyon
na mayroon silang pag-asa at kakayahan.”
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with the previous caravans in the Bicol Region and in other parts
of the country, the caravan started off with a parade, an introduction
on the K-AgriNet program, the conduct of a techno clinic, culminating
in a hands-on computer and Internet training aboard DOST’s ICT
bus. |
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Two
FITS launchings
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Two
Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) centers
were launched during the Bicol caravan.
On May 9, a
center was launched at the Department of Agriculture Regional Office
in San Agustin, Camarines Sur.
On May 10 in
Sorsogon City, another FITS center was launched at the city’s
Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
For the Bicol
caravan––covering Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay,
and Sorsogon––the Bicol Consortium for Agriculture and
Resources Research and Development, led by Dr. Ninfa Pelea, co-hosted
the event.
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caravan was manned by the K-AgriNet team composed of the staff of
PCARRD, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Development Academy of
the Philippines, and Department of Agrarian Reform.
The K-AgriNet is a strategic approach to modernize
the agriculture and natural resources sectors through ICT to help
extension workers, farmers, and local executives access information,
modern technologies, and indigenous technologies. (Butch S. Pagcaliwagan,
S&T Media Service)
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Copyright
© 2001
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research
and Development
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (63-049) 536-0014 to 536-0015/ 536-0017 to 536-0020 & 536-0024
Fax Nos. (63-049) 536-0016/ 536-0132
E-mail: pcarrd@pcarrd.dost.gov.ph
All Rights Reserved. |
