TABUK CITY, Kalinga – A swine facility worth PhP5.5M in Brgy. Malalao was inaugurated on January 10.
The recipient of the project given by the Cordillera office of the Department of Agriculture (DA-CAR) through its Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program is the Malalao Farmers Multipurpose Organization (MFMO).
As to features, the facility has 12 cages that can accommodate a maximum of 300 heads of hybrid swine, with feeders, cooling pads, nipple drinkers, exhaust fans, biogas and stock room.
In an interview with Malalao Barangay Chairman and MFMO vice president Efren Bangcoleng, he assured that the organization will provide the counterpart like fencing, and assign at least two workers to manage the said facility.
Arlene Sagayo, Regional Technical Director for Research of DA-CAR said the swine facility in Malalao, which was completed in November 2023 is the first to be turned-over in Kalinga this year. Same INSPIRE projects are still on-going like those in Balbalan, Lubuagan, Rizal and Sitio Mallong, Brgy.Cudal, this city.
Sagayo also encouraged the MFMO to make the facility sustainable, and produce quality swine to obtain accreditation on Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) from DA-CAR.
“Once GAHP is secured, the organization can export pigs to other areas of the country,” she added.
Acting City Mayor Dick Bal-o is thankful for the assistance given by the DA-CAR to MFMO, stating that this is a big opportunity to provide additional livelihood for organization members, and to improve the swine industry of the city.
He encouraged the organization to maintain the project well, so more projects will be granted to them by other agencies and the city government.
City Veterinarian Dr. Carmen Wanas, Provincial Veterinarian Leonardo Damian, Provincial Agriculturist Domingo Bakilan, project contractor Engr. Aaron Kub-aron, Dr.Leisley Deligen of DA-CAR, employees of the Office for the City Agricultural Services, some barangay officials of Malalao, and members of the MFMO were also in attendance. By Darwin S. Serion
