THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, through the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), turned over almost P6.4-million worth of various projects to farmer-raisers to further improve the local livestock industry, especially the swine sector.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., who led the turnover rites at the PVO Office at the Capitol compound in Bacolod City on March 2, said the projects are intended to equip livestock raisers in increasing their income and producing more quality meat products.
The projects included a unit of double-decker pig carrier worth P3.5 million, and refrigerated meat van amounting to almost P1.9 million.
These were given to the Alliance of Hog Raisers Association of Negros Occidental (Ahrano), composed of 27 local government unit-based member associations and two federations, with at least 15,000 individual members.
The remaining P1 million is comprised of meat shop packages given to seven hog raisers associations, including Cauayan Livestock and Poultry Marketing Cooperative, Binalbagan Hog Raisers Association, Hinigaran Hog Raisers Association, Sagay City Hog Breeders Association, Caridad Hog Breeders Association, Kabankalan Poultry and Livestock Marketing Cooperative, and Alijis Livestock and Hog Raisers Marketing Cooperative-Valladolid.
Marañon said these projects are part of the Provincial Government's measures to change the current swine industry system.
"We have to make sure that those gaining more are the raisers especially backyard, not the 'biyaheros' or unscrupulous traders," the governor said, adding that by ensuring the quality of the products, consumers are also being protected.
Cynthia de la Cruz, president of Ahrano, said the project is aligned with the organization's direction to build the capacity of raisers in the province, especially the backyard ones.
De la Cruz said the province's initiative addresses the need of farmer-raisers in the grassroots to generate more income so that they can support their families.
"This is an additional encouragement for our members and officers to strive more not only for their personal benefit, but also to contribute to the development of the whole industry," she added.
Aside from the turnover of projects, PVO also officially launched yesterday the Negros First Pork and Lamb Products Demo Project.
Under which, Ahrano and Sheep and Goat Breeders Association in Negros Occidental (Shegobano) were given kiosks to display and sell their products in front of the PVO Office.
Freezer units are also provided to maintain the quality of their products, including pork and lamb meat, processed and frozen foods like tocino, chorizo, ham, sausage, among others.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the initiative complements the province's goal of alleviating poverty and generating more jobs along with food security.
Moreover, Marañon said this is just a start of more support to the swine industry.
