CARRASCAL, Surigao del Sur- The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Carrascal, Surigao del Sur finally launched its newly-established Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center on Nov. 12, 2019.

The FITS Center received a catalytic fund amounting Php100,000.00 from the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) 13. This is through the effort of the Municipal Agriculture Office which was headed by Municipal Agriculturist Japhet C. Sugian.

The launching ceremony was participated by fifty (50) farmer-leaders of the different barangays in Carrascal including the Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs). There also the ATI-RTC 13 representatives, Ms. Mary Grace Salve and Ginalyn Arbutante.

On the other hand, Dr. Baceledes Estal, SDSSU president also attended in the said ceremony. He encouraged farmers to visit their own FITS center for them to get updates in terms of modernized farming technologies.

Part of the program is the cutting of ribbon and ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among the LGU, Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU) and ATI-RTC 13. Represented by MA Sugian, Dr. Estal and Ms. Arbutante, on behalf of ATI-RTC 13 Center Director Samuel L. Calonzo.

The said FITS center was evaluated last year by the members of the Regional Technical Working Committee (RTWC) of the Techno Gabay Program (TGP). The committee comprised representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and ATI. Evaluators from the Partner Agencies such as Caraga State University (CSU), (SDSSU), and Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT) also joined in.