BAGUIO CITY – Aiming to improve the implementation of the programs and projects of the Regional Livestock Program, a semestral assessment and planning workshop has been conducted on July 20-21, 2022 in Baguio City.
In the two-day event, the region assessed its performance in terms of budget utilization; delivery of services, programs, projects, and activities implementation; and its contribution to the sufficiency level of livestock and poultry products as the region still experiencing the effects of African Swine Fever (ASF) and Avian Influenza (AI).
Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey said “we have to focus and review the physical targets, current and proposed budget, and the roles of our partners in the provinces in the implementation of our programs.” He encouraged the Provincial Veterinarians not to limit their assistance and partnership to the livestock program but to include also other programs of the regional office that have livestock components like the Special Area for Agricultural Development Program (SAAD) and the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program.
Likewise, Director Odsey shared that among the general instruction of President and concurrent DA Secretary Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is the need to address the issues in the livestock sector especially the ASF and AI. “We need to strengthen the way we respond to these and let us again review the protocols because these are both a public health and veterinary concern,” Odsey stated.
During the workshop, Mr. Jayvee Canor, Livestock Program Officer, reported that the Program obligated 89% of its semestral allotment and disbursed 14% of its obligation as of June 30, 2022. The bulk of the percentage accomplishment is attributed to the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) Project.
Meanwhile, other concerns raised during the National Livestock Program Assessment, updates on the Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) incentives, updates on the demand and supply database of the Program, livestock and poultry damages incurred during the flashflood in Banaue, Ifugao, and updates on ASF and AI cases were presented.
After the regional presentations, accomplishments of the different Provincial and City Veterinary Offices in the region were also discussed.
Some of the agreements were fast track the Civil Society Organization (CSO) field validation for the INSPIRE beneficiaries; use road maps and value chain analysis as basis of planning; to prepare 2024 proposals; intensify registration of RSBSA; and, strengthen Farmers’ Cooperative and Associations (FCAs) per province to be able to produce enough livestock and poultry products.
In closing, Director Odsey emphasized that close coordination is very significant as that will facilitate our work to reach out to our farmers, helping especially the poorer farmers and ensuring that we have enough food from the livestock sector. “I guess this workshop will rekindle more our closer partnership with the LGUs and I really hope that we will continue to have face to face meetings like this as this undertaking is appropriate in threshing addressing our issues and concerns,” he stressed.//LDM
