Western Visayas – The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) - Region 6 through its Information and Services Section (ISS) established four (4) additional Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Centers in Western Visayas. The newly-launched FITS centers were located in Carles and Leganes in Iloilo and in Pontevedra and Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.
These FITS centers will serve as a learning hub in the local community where farmers, fishers, youth, agripreneurs, and other stakeholders can access agriculture and fisheries (A&F) knowledge and technologies. The endeavor is part of ATI’s continuous efforts to bring A&F information and technologies closer to the communities through its Techno Gabay Program (TGP).
The launchings were attended by the municipal/city agriculture heads, local chief executives (LCEs), Sangguniang Panlalawigan/ Bayan Members, farmers, fishers and youth. LCEs are grateful that their city/municipalities were among the beneficiaries of the FITS center since it will help improve their agriculture and fisheries endeavors. Also, they assured that FITS centers will be utilized according to its intended purpose and that the local administration will support the TGP endeavors.
Likewise, ATI-ISS chief Nicolasita Gallego presented the TGP guidelines particularly the duties and responsibilities of the personnel assigned in the FITS Center. She also highlighted that the FITS Center will be a learning hub in the community where farmers can access information and technologies in agriculture and fisheries and enroll in free online courses through the e-Learning program. She also encouraged the farmer and fisher leaders to establish a FITS Kiosks in their barangay for easy-access of information and knowledge in agriculture and fisheries in their locality.
Currently, there were a total of 74 operational FITS Centers across the region that serves the farmers and fishers with up-to-date information and technologies in agriculture and fisheries.
The launchings of the new FITS Centers were conducted last January 23-24; 26-27, 2023 in the provinces of Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
