CapSU extension spearheads livelihoods, partnerships

By Niño Manaog

With reports from Rector John Latoza, 

Veronica Albaladejo and Eduardo Navarra

The leadership in extension services was also enhanced through linkages with the provincial government and other entities. These included Dr. Raul Ticar’s attendance and participation in Extension Managers Council Board Meetings of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) Region 6 and in the Quarterly Techno Gabay Meetings led by the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC).

As part of the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center mechanism of WESVARRDEC, Techno Gabay Team Leader Eduardo Navarra, who is the University’s Extension Specialist, led carbonized rice hull production demonstration, mushroom culture, indigenous microorganisms (IMO) preparation and vermicomposting, among others, in different communities in the localities.

From August to October, The Mobile School Technology facilitated the graduation of the Skills Training on Basic Arc Welding at Bula, Mambusao – Extension program of CapSU. Since October 2008, some 300 out-of-school youth (OSY) have been graduated by Mobile Technology School (MTS), an extension mechanism designed to provide Capizeños with skills for gainful employment.

A brainchild of CapSU and implemented in collaboration with the Capiz provincial government, Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), MTS is what President Magallanes calls the “core program of CapSU Roxas City Community Extension Services Office.” The various MTS training courses included Basic Arc Welding, Beauty Care and Cosmetology and Beauty Tips which were designed by CapSU to make education accessible to a wider mass of people.

The Mobile Technology Schools takes a big leap as DOLE is set to turn over livelihood starter kits worth P300,000 to 42 MTS graduates of basic arc welding and beauty care. According to DOLE Capiz Provincial Head Ricardo P. Monegro, “beneficiaries underwent orientation and submitted their respective individual business plan and projected income.” A management team has also been established to monitor and keep track of the project’s status and implementation.

Across the campuses, faculty members and staff attended a number of activities outside Capiz State University including the AgriLink expo at the World Trade Center, WESVARRDEC-PCARRD assessments, seminar on procurement system and livelihood trainings on coconut toddy sugar production and patis making. CapSU extension personnel conducted trainings on vermicomposting and organic farming to Jamindan RCDC members and LGUs and initiated fish culture and bio-intensive gardening lectures to parolees of Mambusao as part of the National Correctional Consciousness Week (NACOCOW) Celebration.

Before the year ended, The Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) in partnership with the Capiz State University launched five more Farmers Information and Technology Service (FITS) centers in the towns of Dao (November 23); Ivisan and Panay (November 29) and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) Capiz and President Roxas (November 30).

And pursuant to the deadline set by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), WESVARRDEC launched 17 new farmers’ centers in all across the region within two weeks. These included 7 in Iloilo; 5 in Capiz; 2 each for Negros Occidental and Guimaras; and 1 in Aklan.

Under Executive Order 801 otherwise known as “Encouraging Local Government Units to Adopt the Techno Gabay Program in their Agricultural Programs and the Concerned Government Agencies to Provide the Required Assistance for the Purpose,” PCARRD’s Techno Gabay modality was endorsed for adoption and implementation by different local government units (LGUs) nationwide. The Executive Order was signed by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in May 2009.

The establishment of new FITS centers was warmly welcomed by the beneficiaries and stakeholders. For Vice-Mayor Gualberto Bernas of Panay, Capiz, the FITS center will be “useful to the farmers” and thus there is a “need to sustain it.” Instead of anticipating what they can get from it, Bernas challenged the residents of Panay to assume the FITS center with full responsibility, even saying that Panay could not wait longer so they could share their best practices to other municipalities. Bernas urged stakeholders to take charge of the facilities to be entrusted to them and said that the residents of Panay will surely benefit from the fast and modern information that can enhance their farming and technology practices.