To strengthen the long-term sustainability of their services, managers and staff of the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Centers in Region 1 participated in a Training Workshop on Project Proposal Preparation held from May 27 to 30, 2025, at the Agricultural Training InstituteโRegional Training Center 1 (ATI-RTC 1) in Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.
The four-day workshop empowered 26 FITS Center and kiosk staff with essential knowledge and practical skills to engage productively with various agencies and institutions that can support their continued service delivery. Participants underwent hands-on sessions designed to help them craft well-structured, persuasive, and competitive project proposals.
Serving as the resource person for the first three days was Dr. Melinda F. Mangabat, former Assistant Center Director of ATI-RTC 1. Dr. Mangabat facilitated interactive lectures, discussions, and workshops focusing on the project development cycle, problem and objective tree analysis, logical framework matrix development, proposal writing, and the fundamentals of project monitoring and evaluation.
Participants also had the opportunity to present their project proposals and receive constructive feedback from Dr. Mangabat, enabling them to refine and improve their outputs.
The fourth day of the training was dedicated to field visits, providing participants with practical insights and inspiration. The first stop was at the Jopat Integrated Farm in Mangaldan, Pangasinan, managed by Mr. Jonathan Jose G. Patawaran, a Magsasaka Siyentista, who shared his significant contributions to the full operationalization of the FITS Center in their locality.
The second site visit was at the FITS Center in San Carlos City, where FITS Center Manager Ms. Estrellita B. Jacaban shared the center's best practices in implementing the Techno Gabay Program, highlighting its strategic three-year roadmap.
Finally, participants visited Our Farm Republic in Mangatarem, Pangasinan, owned by Ms. Lea Astrude T. Santiago, another Magsasaka Siyentista. She showcased how she successfully established a FITS Kiosk within her farm, serving as a model for community-based agricultural innovation.
Through this comprehensive training and immersive field exposure, the participants are now better equipped to develop impactful project proposals and foster meaningful collaborations that will strengthen the operations of their respective FITS Centers.
