HOG BREEDING PROJECT. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (center), with Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena (left) and Mayor Pedro Zayco (standing, 2nd from right), led the turn-over of breeding piglets to hog raisers in Kabankalan City on Wednesday (Aug. 5, 2020). It is part of the PHP5-million genetic improvement project provided by the Provincial Veterinary Office under the Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement Program. (Photo courtesy of PIO Negros Occidental)
BACOLOD CITY – The provincial government here turned over genetic improvement projects worth PHP5 million to hog raisers in southern Negros Occidental on Wednesday.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who led the turn-over rites in various local government units (LGUs) with Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, said livelihood programs for animal breeders remain a priority even as the province battles the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
“I hope this project will become sustainable to help more beneficiaries and ensure food security in the province,” he added.
Lacson attended the activities held in Kabankalan City, Sipalay City, and Cauayan town, which are three of the six beneficiary LGUs in the sixth district.
Decena said each LGU, including the three others, Candoni, Ilog, and Hinoba-an, received 30 heads of breeder piglet worth PHP810,000.
This is part of the services provided by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) under the Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement Program (PAGIP), including 1,000 breeder piglets and 16 boars for artificial insemination (AI) centers.
“Genetic improvement for backyard farming is a very important requirement to prevent inbreeding among animals. It is beneficial to farmer-beneficiaries because they cannot afford to buy breeder stocks,” Decena said.
In Sipalay and Cauayan, they also inaugurated the Peking duck multiplier farm project aside from dispersing breeder piglets.
PAGIP is one of the flagship programs of the provincial government aimed at improving and upgrading the genetic makeup of local livestock and poultry animals.
Through the initiative, the province’s livestock and poultry industry were able to sustain its lead in the national statistics in terms of production.
Last week, Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer also launched various veterinary projects at Barangays Lag-asan and Poblacion in Bago City.
These included a free-range chicken multiplier farm as well as carabao and goat dairy production.
The top provincial officials also turned over meat shop equipment to the Bago City Hog Raisers Association, PHP1.5-million financial assistance for swine fattening project to members of the Alliance of Hog Raisers Association in Negros Occidental, and breeder piglets to several identified beneficiaries. (PNA)
