LAOAG CITY -- Some residents living in a poor village in Dan-ar, Santiago, Ilocos Sur had been always wanting to break away from poverty until an opportunity knocks on their door sooner than expected.
Under the sustainable livelihood program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 23 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the village organized themselves into an organization as they underwent a skills training on chicken egg production.
The association is composed of carpenters, farmers and housewives.
One year later, the egg farming facility of the Dan-ar Poultry Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA) is now supplying quality eggs for the whole village consumption. Every day, the poultry can produce four to 10 trays.
These are sold at Php140 to Php170 per tray depending on the size of the eggs.
Makers of miki (rice noodles), which is a favorite Ilocano merienda, school canteen managers and store owners, serve as their regular buyers.
SLPA president Jocelyn Manzano recalled that after the skills training, the association decided to set up their own poultry, and the business grew.
Eggs are fast-moving commodities sold in stores every day. Hence, with its high demand, the group agreed to put up their own small egg-laying poultry facility.
With the help of the DSWD, the association was given starter kits, which include 300 egg-laying chickens, 150 cavans of feeds, and galvanized roof sheets for the poultry’s housing.
Each of the members, on the other hand, contributed bamboo splits for the construction of the chicken cages. Each member follows a schedule to be at the poultry 24 hours a day.
“Mayat ti tinnunosmi nga agkakadwa isu a makitkitami a bareng dumakkel pay daytoy (We have good working relationship among ourselves that is why, we foresee the expansion of our poultry),” said Manzano.
Forty percent of the group’s profit ranging from PHP5,000 to PHP15,000 monthly is divided equally among the members, while the remaining 60 percent goes to their savings.
Manzano said some of their savings are used for the installation of electricity in the poultry, acquisition of additional 100 egg laying chickens, and construction of a small kubo (nipa hut) that serves as the station of the member in-charge in the poultry.
The group also pays PHP1,000 as lot rental annually. With increasing revenues, it plans to purchase an electric pump that would ease the water system in their poultry.
“Makatulong daytoy ta ti bingay ti tumunggal maysa ket nayon a balon dagiti annakmi nga agbasbasa (Our business helps our family because the share of each member usually goes to our children’s school allowance),” added Manzano. (PNA)
