Little means...can save the Earth

The "Saint Augustine High School" initiated a contest for best Belen and Christmas Tree Making using indigenous materials. It was displayed for two weeks in their respective rooms until the final judging. Before the evaluation period, the team of FITS Center lead by our FITS Manager Mrs. Genalyn L. Campos took a look of the exhibit and photo documented last December 19, 2011. One of the endeavors of the FITS Center is to support the programs of national and local government and do the information, education and dissemination of relevant matters.

The most talk about issue nowadays is climate change. The past 1 and half year, we conducted series of symposiums on climate change to 3 High schools and elementary schools within the municipality. We gave information to the students how Climate Change happened and what they can do to slow down or mitigate the alarming phenomenon. One of these is executes war on waste program, the students are taught on how to re-used and recycle garbage materials. So, the team is blissful when we know that the schools are initiating such activity and still embraced the commitment of saving the earth. During the final judging, the Fourth year high school section Saint Luke took

it all... They won the grand prize both the Belen and Christmas Tree competition. In the photo Christmas Tree is made of banana leaves (Unas)was the winner. Congratulations Saint Augustine High School for the job well done!

Farmers Classes

The 1st cropping season for rice production is just started. It's time for the farmers to prepare their land for planting. While waiting for the seeds to sow & preparation of seedbed, the FITS Staff together with the MASO (Municipal Agriculture Services Office) staff conducted farmer's classes to all barangays in the municipality of San Agustin. The activity is like a meeting, consultation and give updates to farmers & fisherfolks about the present program of our new President. The Program called Agri-Pinoy and the facilitator explained to them the key checks of the program. Also, informing them the regulatory and its process in every sector.

So far, 5 barangays have been conducted farmer's classes and still on going...

Varietal Trial Demo Site Second Season Monitoring

The FITS staff visited the demo site of Varietal Trial (2nd season)to observe the difference of the characteristics of three (3) varieties. The area is ready to harvest but the TSS will do crop-cut and collect data as a result.

Police Officers & CENRO Personnel save the Green Turtle

The Green Turtle was captured three (3) days ago in the sea water of Barangay Bretania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur with the fishermen. They brought and turn-over the said turtle in Philippine National Police for appropriate action. The Police then coordinated the CENRO for verification and for documentation. Together with the FITS staff, the CENRO personnel documented and get data;it includes the height of carapace which is 15 inches long, the width is 11 inches and the head is about 3.5 inches long. After the data collected, the Green Turtle then transported to Barangay Bretania and from there the said mammal will be free into the ocean.

Cyanide fishing caught in the act...

The local Philippine National Police in the Municipality of San Agustin caught a fisherman fishing in the jurisdiction of municipal waters of San Agustin and using cyanide that is highly prohibited. The said fisherman is a resident of barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur. The pictures show the fishes and the cyanide being used in fishing.... The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Municipal Agriculture Services Offices filed charges against the said fisherman for violating the fishery law and is now under the control of PNP.

Symposium on climate change

Contribution of SanAg FITS Center on Climate Change Issue








…the conceptualization

Today’s most conversed issue is about climate change. People may have different perception about the issue and some of them won’t even believe that it’s already happening now in the world. Even though it is most discussed topic, many youngsters don’t even know exactly what the issue mean to them is. There are several concern agencies, sectors, personalities or individual who actually do their part initially to at least minimize the global climate changes.
The Local Government Unit of San Agustin is one that is alarmed of the so-called issue and thru the SanAg FITS Center; they conducted series of symposiums targeted the high schools and elementary grade V & VI pupils. The Local Government believes that through dissemination of information about climate change and how to mitigate these changes would opened the eyes of these youth that they can do their share to save the Mother Earth as well.


The Impact of the Symposium

The group of SanAg FITS personnel together with the CCARRD staff jointly facilitated the activity. It was done first in Saint Augustine High School, followed by the Sto.Nino National High School then Gata Elementary V & VI & Integrated High School, Salvacion National High School and the rest of Elementary schools were facilitated by the FITS staffs. According to the students as well as the Teachers of the school where we conducted the symposiums that they already heard and aware about the issue but the information are indistinct because in their perception, global warming is the same with climate change. They also knew about green house effect and what those greenhouse gases are. Though they already aware of that, but what the FITS & CCARRD staff did were contributed a relevant and additional information to them. In Saint Augustine High School, they raised a lot of questions concerning the programs of the government and what are the actions done or to be taken by the government; be it national or local in response to the alarming issue. Though the facilitators are not capable or not the concern individual to answer their queries but then these students and Teachers got a satisfactory response from the facilitator. Despite the fact that they have questioned the support of the government, they still expressed their gratitude for the opportunity that their school has been conducted this kind of symposium. They also presented their plans and the current programs of the school in response to global issues. These programs included the tree planting, collecting of garbage before the flag ceremony or after and encourage the students not to burn garbage instead to re-use and recycled things. The Teachers also instructed the students to make a reflection relevant to the topics. The FITS Manager also announced and persuaded the students to join the poster making and essay writing as part of the culmination and was done during the finale of Farmers and Fisherfolks’ Forum held last August 25-26, 2010. The Essay Writing & Poster Making anchored to the Theme of the Forum, Re: “Sustained Agro ecosystems Natural dynamics: an Adaptation mechanism for Global climate change thru Utilization of site Specific Technologies, Indigenous knowledge & Nature’s wellness… Genuine Organic Agriculture”. As part of the team, what we have accomplished was indeed inspired me to be more keen in the Information dissemination specifically to the youth who will play a big role in saving our Mother Earth.



RUBYLEN C. ARBIOL
FITS-ISS

For your eyes only... Bretania Islands & Islets