TWENTY-FIVE beneficiaries in Negros Occidental received 220 heads of upgraded breed goats worth about P1.1 million from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) on Friday.
The animal dispersal, the first batch for this year, is under the province's Negros First Animal Livelihood Program and Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement Program.
The two complementing programs are aimed at upgrading the genetic makeup of the local livestock and poultry animals while augmenting the livelihood of the raisers.
Of the 25 beneficiaries, six are groups of indigenous peoples (IP).
These are the Las Piñas Minapasok Ata Tribal Council in Calatrava, Manara Ata Community Tribal Community Tribal Council in Cadiz City, Ginamon Minoyan Bukidnon Tribal Council in Murcia, Sitio Tigbao Barangay Buenavista Bukidnon Tribal Community in Himamaylan City, Makilignit Isabela Bukidnon Tribal Council in Isabela, and Hinoba-an IP Community.
Other recipients are individual and group raisers from different local government units (LGUs).
Of the 220 goats sourced by the province from Cebu, 200 heads are doe worth P5,000 each and 20 heads of buck amounting to P7,500 per head.
Joselito Jaballa, provincial animal dispersal coordinator, said that under the program, recipient-raisers are obliged to pay back two heads of doe within two years, specifically the animal's first and third offsprings.
Jaballa said this is to allow other raisers avail of the program as well, adding that in case of animal deaths due to diseases, recipients should present necessary documents for non-disqualification.
“Aside from providing livelihood to farmer-raisers, the animal dispersal is one of the provincial government's major initiatives that have impacted positively the local livestock and poultry industry,” he added.
