LUNA, Apayao – The Provincial Government of Apayao (PGA), through the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) and Farmer Livestock School (FLS) Ruminant Production, awarded 200 sheep and 30 cattle to 70 farmers of the Municipalities of Flora, Pudtol and Santa Marcela, last August 16 at the PVO and Agri-Vet Office at Payanan Luna Apayao.
The beneficiary farmers are one of those undergoing schooling at the Farmer Livestock School in Flora, Pudtol and Santa Marcela which started in April and will end this November.
The beneficiaries are those who complied requirements needed to be given aid, like attending classes, having validated forest area, housing of the livestock, and evidence of ability to manage livestock.
Five (5) farmers from Santa Marcela and twenty-five (25) farmers from the Municipality of Flora received one (1) cattle each. Meantime, Pudtol farmers received five sheep per recipient which composed of 4 females and 1 male sheep.
The distribution of the animals is in support to the program of the PGA to sustain and produce more livestock. In order to reduce poverty, enhance food security, and combat malnutrition in the province, Governor Elias C. Bulut, Jr. sees it as imperative that the province become self-sufficient in livestock production.
The ruminants produced from the ones provided shall later be distributed to other farmers who will be able to comply with the said requirements set by the PVO.
In his welcome message Doc. Ralph Verzon, Provincial Veterinarian said he is grateful for the full support of Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr. to this program as it directly benefits the farmers.
“Kitkitaen tayo iti goal tayo para detoy nga dispersal project ket towards food sufficiency and to mitigate malnutrition, for this year ken siguro mga after 2 years detoy ti goal tayo for food security nu mapaado tayo detoy sukatan tayo man ti goal tayon tun, mapan tayon tun iti value adding so addan tu iti levelling up etoy nga programa mapan tayon tun ti food processing,” relayed Verzon.
“Maybe if we can also increase our rehouse it would be better if we train in butchering or meat cutting so that we can also sell those cut products of cattle and sheeps, so those are the things we are thinking about here in this office with the help and support of Governor Butsy and Cong. Leah” he added.
Provincial Planning and Development Officer, Engr. Henry Caluducan, in his talk lauded the PVO for their continues work and aid to farmers.
Caluducan also reminded the beneficiaries to take good care of what they received.
“Let us accept these projects and hopefully we will focus on their improvement and increase so that as they increase, your lives as beneficiaries will become better,” said Caluducan.
Provincial Administrator, Atty. Edmar Pascua, for his part, congratulated the beneficiaries, especially the young ones who have been patient to get this far in the program.
Pascua adviced the beneficiaries to do well in propagating the animals given to them. “Alagaan yu kuma daytoy nga ited ti probinsya nga interventions ken paadwen yu ta ury nu haan tayon tu nga ag-imimport’n idjay nueva ecija datayon tun ti paggapwan na, iapply yu dagitay insuro ti pvet kanyayu,” he said.
Additionally, Donato Balag, Executive Assistant II and the representative of the Governor’s office shared his knowledge as he was an FLS graduate in year 2019. “Amu yu kakailyan naggraduar nak met iti FLS a kas kanyayu ngem kaasi ni apo ket nalulukmeg dagitay baka kon,” he said while encouraging the beneficiaries to be positive in the endeavor.
The recipients, on the other hand, expressed gratitude to the leaders of Apayao, especially Governor Elias C. Buluit, Jr. and Congresswoman Eleanor Bulut-Begtang.
One receipient said “kada kami sapayla kuma ta tunggal maysa kada kami nga agad-adal ket naimula tuy panunot mi nga aggaggaget kami ken agan- anus kami ta daytoy ket pagsayaatan mi metlang, dagitoy nga inpa-ay yu kada kami ket maysa met nga pangalaan mi ti nayun iti pagbiyag mi.”
The farmer beneficiaries agreed to abide by the regulations by signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), where the animals given to them will be regularly monitored. By Krizza Joy Castillo
