THE government's Techno-Gabay program, an information technology project for the farmers, had recently facilitated the formulation of a business plan and Science and Technology-based farm proposal to set as guidelines in the operation of FITS centers and make information services more farmer-friendly. Staff of the Farmers Information Technology Service (FITS) center came up with the business plan and the technology-based farm proposal after the two-day planning workshop on November 20-21 at JJ's Seafood Village .

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) conducted the workshop in collaboration with the Central Visayas Consortium for Integrated Regional Research and Development (CVCIRRD) and the provincial FITS Center . The activity aimed to further fine-tune the operation of FITS center and make its facilities and services farmer-friendly to, eventually, fully capacitate the farmer-clients to maximize their resources and production. Establishment of FITS centers is among the technology-oriented innovations in boosting the province's agriculture sector, implemented under the Techno-Gabay Program of PCARRD to bring science-based information and technology services to the end-users of the agriculture, forestry, and natural resources sectors. PCARRD, lead implementor of Techno Gabay program, had released P700,000 to the provincial government represented by Provincial Agriculturist Liza Quirog, who is also the manager of ProFITS.

The fund was intended to support the various Techno-Gabay program activities in the province, including human resource development, capability enhancement and organizational development. Aside from tourism, agriculture is the province's other main economic driver that the administration of Governor Erico Aumentado continually supports through partnerships and introduction of technologies or innovations. Deputy executive director for Institution Development and Resource Management, Richard Juanillo and PCARRD Assistant Director Dr. Arturo S. Arganosa, together with Merivic Catada, the regional Techno-Gabay coordinator, were present during the workshop.

Techno-Gabay Program is one of the banner programs of PCARRD under DOST. The program, with its network of research and development facilities and institutions in the country, envisions to help build a strong Philippine Republic by enhancing the information and technology service of the Local Government Units which are in the forefront of extension delivery. The total number of FITS centers under the Techno-Gabay Program operating in Bohol have reached 32. Among them is the Provincial FITS (ProFITS) Center which is operated by the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO). ProFITS serves as the nerve center of the Techno-Gabay Program in the province where the activities are orchestrated in order to achieve the objectives of the program.(Villa Inguito/PAO & BEGTZabala/PGMA)