The MAFAR Provincial Office in Tawi-Tawi is now home to the Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center in the Province. The center was launched on January 14, 2025, through a partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) and the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) Region XII, headed by OIC-Assistant Center Director Ms. Hannadi Guiamad-Pompong.
The FITS Center, as part of ATI-RTC XII, will serve as a knowledge and resource-sharing center to improve the sustainability and productivity of farming and fishing communities. Tawi-Tawi’s establishment marks the beginning of a broader plan to create FITS Centers at every MAFAR provincial office in BARMM.
MAFAR-Tawi-Tawi’s Provincial Director, Dr. Aidarus I. Nami, highlighted the FITS Center’s importance as a resource for farming communities. In addition to helping farmers and fishermen in the province, he expressed hope that the center would serve as a model for other MAFAR provincial offices throughout BARMM.
The event included the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between ATI-RTC XII and MAFAR-Tawi-Tawi, formalizing their collaboration to manage and sustain the operations of the FITS Center. The program also featured an overview of the FITS Center and the Technology-Gabay Program (TGP), presented by Mr. John Lord L. Auman, OIC-Chief of ISS/Information Officer II.
Ms. Nur-Aina B. Ingkagan, Division Chief I of PCA-Tawi-Tawi, expressed her support for the initiative, highlighting its potential to improve agricultural practices in the region.
William Usman Jr., JD, Information Officer of MAFAR-Tawi-Tawi, emphasized the importance of teamwork in ensuring the success of the FITS Center and reaffirmed the commitment to making sure it serves its purpose effectively.
The FITS Center’s establishment marks an important step in agricultural development in BARMM. With its launch in Tawi-Tawi, this program sets the foundation for future centers that will strengthen local agricultural sectors across the Bangsamoro Region.
