PARACELIS, Mountain Province – A 5-million-peso worth of project under the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program of the Department of Agriculture- Cordillera (DA-CAR) was officially handed to a women empowered group, Bugnay Pacak Farmers Association, last December 19, 2024.
The project is composed of a newly built housing for 100 heads of hogs, bodega, toilet, automatic feeder, biogas digester, and feeds.
Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr., in his message, thanked the DA for bringing the project to provide additional livelihood to the people of Butigue barangay. He encouraged the group to take care of it for the benefit of the members and to continually help in food security.
“Projects such as this are a showcase of the strong teamwork of the officialdom of Mountain Province and stakeholders,” he said.
The Governor reiterated that the provincial government is committed to provide any assistance in its capacity to improve the enterprise of the group as well as the community that is aligned in the Barangay Muna Program of the province.
A message from Lone District Representative Maximo Y. Dalog Jr., represented by Paul Balog-ang, thanked the DA for bringing the INSPIRE project in the municipality of Paracelis, particularly in Butigue, to basically benefit our farmers and hog raisers.
He informed that in 2021, the INSPIRE Project was launched to address the challenges of the African Swine Fever (AFS).
“We cannot dispute the fact that pigs are a major commodity in the agricultural industry, contributing to food security and economy. The swine industry is a key part of our way of living, providing about 70 to 80 percent of our province’s animal meat consumption,” he said.
“Let us continue to educate them by supporting initiatives that can help them learn about modern farming methods, in order to improve their productivity, like how to properly feed their pigs, administer the right medications, and keep their piggeries clean and odor free,” Balog-ang added.
Board Member Ezra Samson A. Gomez, Committee Chairman on Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, emphasized that the INSPIRE Project is a milestone for Barangay Butigue because they will be the source of fattened pigs in the locality and further boost the economy of the municipality. He encouraged the group to sustain the project since it is a blessing that not all associations can receive.
Moreover, Mountain Province APCO Pedro Pinos-an, relaying the message of DA-CAR Regional Field Office Regional Executive Director Jennilyn M. Dawayen, informed that with the cooperation of everyone, especially the Bugnay Pacak Farmers Association, the project was realized. He encouraged the group to make it a productive and profitable enterprise.
Moreover, Provincial Veterinarian Rodelio B. Bagawi thanked the DA for the project and according to him, the patience of the group led to the compliance of all the needed requirements. He said that Paracelis is known for vast lands planted with corn, banana and rice.
The presence of the INSPIRE Project will provide a diversification of products and enterprises for the group.
Bagawi said that the INSPIRE project aims to help the swine industry recover from ASF and increase productivity.
“The major goal is to repopulate and improve the local swine industry. Further, it ensures availability, accessibility, and affordability of swine and pork products while increasing income and expanding market opportunities,” he said.
The event was attended by representatives from the DA-CAR headed by Jennifer Supusop of the Livestock and Regulatory Division, APCO staff-Mountain Province, staff from the Office of the Cong. Maximo Y. Dalog Jr., the provincial government headed by Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. and staff from the Provincial Governor’s Office and Provincial Veterinary Office. Also, in attendance were Paracelis Mayor Marcos G. Ayangwa, represented by Atty. Shastaan Baguingan-Vargas, and Vice Mayor Djarma B. Rafael, together with the local officials, personnel form the Office of the Fisheries and Agriculture Services-OFAS, barangay government of Butigue headed by Punong Barangay Russel Capua, and members of the Bugnay Pacak Farmers Association. By PVO press release
