ORDINANCE NO: 2017-386 Sponsored by the Committee on Agriculture, Fishery and Agrarian Reform "AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A FARMERS' INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (FITS CENTER) IN SUPPORT TO THE TECHNO GABAY PROGRAM AND TO ALLOCATE THE NEEDED FUNDS THROUGH ITS IMPLEMENTATION" WHEREAS, the ATI-Region IX as the extension and training arm of the Department of Agriculture is mandated to provide extension services to the local government units and its clientele is committed to fast track technology delivery to clients in the agriculture, fisheries and natural resources sector by institutionalizing the Techno Gabay Program in the City Agriculture Office; WHEREAS,?the City Government of Pagadian by virtue of the Decentralization Law under the Local Government Code, must provide agricultural extension and on-site research services and facilities through transfer of appropriate technology and assistance to farmers and other agricultural stakeholders in the municipality; Whereas, by virtue of Executive Order No. 801, whereby all local government units are encouraged to adopt the Techno Gabay in their agricultural extension programs and the concerned government agencies to provide the required assistance for the purpose; Now, Therefore, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Pagadian in session assembled do ordain, as it hereby ordains that: Section 1. TITLE. - This Ordinance shall be known as "AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A FARMERS' INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (FITS CENTER) IN SUPPORT OF THE TECHNO GABAY PROGRAM AND TO ALLOCATE THE NEEDED FUNDS THROUGH ITS IMPLEMENTATION" Section 2.? Objectives of the Techno Gabay Program. - To develop, validate and promote an effective mechanism for agriculture and fisheries extension through the implementation of the Techno Gabay Program (TGP); To integrate and fine tune the components of TGP namely: Farmers' Information and Technology Services (FITS) or Techno Pinoy, Magsasaka Siyentista (MS), Information Education and Communication (IEC) and Information and Communications Technology (ICT); To provide a venue for technology adoption and utilization and source of feedback from clients; To strengthen the link among technology generators, servers and adaptors; To promote and enhance utilization of technologies in production, post-harvest handling, processing in agriculture, environmental and natural resources; Link clients and development partners to the scientists/experts in the field of agriculture, environment and natural resources; and To set-up information and technology services at the doorstep of end-users by establishing the City Farmers' Information and Technology Services (City FITS) or Techno Pinoy Center, a technology delivery system that will fast track dissemination of information from research laboratories to the field. Section 3.?Definition of Terms. ATI (Agricultural Training Institute) - the extension and training arm of the Department of Agriculture. Farmer's Information and Technology Services (FITS) - is an information and technology delivery service facility which is aimed at improving access of farmers, traders, processors, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to information and technologies in agriculture and natural resources; Information and Communications Technology (ICT) - refers to all the technology used to handle telecommunications, broadcast media, intelligent building management systems, audiovisual processing and transmission systems, and network-based control and monitoring functions. Information Education and Communication (IEC) - is an approach which attempts to change or reinforce a set behavior in a target audience regarding a specific problem in a predefined period of time. Information Services - is a service which provides data/knowledge/information somehow. Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) - shall refer to farmer scientists. Techno Gabay Program (TGP) - originally initiated to the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to promote technology dissemination and utilization guides and facilitate knowledge sharing among extension workers and farmers. Technology Services -provide specialized technology-oriented solutions by combining the processes and functions of software, hardware, networks, telecommunications and electronics Section 4. Nature of the Techno Gabay Program. - The Techno Gabay Program will have the four components, namely Farmers' Information and Technology Services (FITS), Magsasaka Siyentista (MS), IEC and ICT Strategies. Minimum Requirements: The FITS Center shall conform to the following minimum requirements: Accessibility of clients; Office space with a floor area of at least 50 square meters; Standard FITS billboard in a prominent location outside the building; Furniture and fixtures for display of IEC materials and exhibit of products of the FITS Clients and Magsasaka Siyentista; table and chairs for walk-in clients and in the conduct of trainings and other activities of the FITS Center; ICT equipment including desktop computer and accessories, camera, TV set with DVD/CD player, photocopier, sound system, among others; Accessibility or availability of a local internet service provider; Data/information in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and natural resources of the municipality; Manpower complement to act as FITS Manager, Information Service Specialist and Technology Service Specialists. Other staff particularly the agricultural technologists may serve as members of the pool of experts on an on-call basis as needed by the FITS clients; Appointment of a Magsasaka Siyentista within six (6) months of FITS establishment; and Fund allocation for the establishment, and maintenance and other operating expenses to be provided by the municipality, the FITS Center being an integral unit of the municipality. Information and Technology Services: Information Services shall provide the following services: Access to information, education and communication materials in various multi-media formals; Access to global information through the DA-ATI and PCARRD-DOST websites and other websites that provide agriculture and related information; Exhibits on new technologies, products and services; Short Messaging Service; and FITS Information System Technology Services shall likewise be aired and may range from but not limited to the following: Technology trainings; Technical consultancy and techno clinics; Linkage with experts, financial institutions, input suppliers and market; Technical assistance for enterprise development; and Referral for source or provision of quality materials and animal stocks Section 5. TERMS OF REFERENCE - The agencies involved will have the following terms of reference: ATI-Region IX shall: Provide or facilitate the conduct of training programs for the efficient and effective operation of the FITS Center; Provide technology/information through IEC materials to the FITS Center; Make available its staff (or other experts) for consultation, networking, training and related activities that may be needed by FITS Center; Provide access to the e-Learning component of the e-Extension program and other relevant information systems; and Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the program. The Local Government of Pagadian shall: Enact a municipal ordinance or a Sangguniang Bayan resolution on the adoption of the TGP incorporating therein the needed funds; Appoint/designate the manpower needed by the FITS Center; Collaborate with all concerned agencies in the planning of technology delivery activities in line with the agriculture, fisheries and forestry development program of the province; Provide fund support for the establishment and maintenance of the FITS Center as well as the minimum resource requirements for setting up the FITS Center; Include in the municipal comprehensive development plan/annual investment plan whichever is appropriate, the necessary support system for adopting the TGP and ensuring its sustainability; and Submit liquidation report as to the utilization of funds to ATI-Region IX on or before the end of December 2017 verified by the COA Auditor. Section 6. Rationale for the Establishment of FITS Center. - a) To support the Techno Gabay Program in the City Agriculture Office, this ordinance aims to establish a FITS Center "FARMERS' INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES" in order to fast track technology delivery to clients in the agriculture, fisheries and natural resources sector. b) The Honorable City Mayor of Pagadian City shall assign appropriate staff to manage the FITS Center and ensure the smooth operation of its services to be train by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI-R-9), extension and training arm of the Department of Agriculture. Other agricultural technologists shall serve as members of the pool of experts-on-call depending on the needs expertise by the FITS clients. Section 7. Repealing Clause - All orders, memoranda, rules and regulations, or any part or parts hereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby revoked or modified accordingly. Section 8. Separability Clause - If for any reason a provision of this Ordinance is declared invalid or unconstitutional, all other provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. Section 9. Effectivity Clause - This Ordinance shall take effect ten (10) days after its publication in a local newspaper of general circulation in the City. ENACTED AND APPROVED by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (12th City Council) during its 55th Regular Session on 29 September 2017 at the SP Session Hall, Legislative Building, V. Sagun Street, San Francisco District, Pagadian City.