Bontoc, Mountain Province – Supply of poultry meat and eggs in the province would not be a problem in the ensuing months as more local livestock farmers benefited from the dispersal of three- to four-week-old “bounty chicks” by the provincial government.
Focal Person for Provincial Poultry Development Program (PPDP) June C. Pinayakan of the Office of the Governor said that the second batch comprising 13 organizations were recently provided with 100 heads of bounty chicks each. The chicken’s housing and food supply shall be the counterpart of the organizations.
The same as the first batch of organizations who benefitted from the program, the second batch were from District II covering the municipalities of Sabangan, Sagada, Tadian, Bauko and Besao as earlier planned to ensure synchronized and orderly distribution of chicks to the recipients. The provincial government targets one organization in every barangay to ensure equal distribution of poultry.
The second batch of recipients composed of the following: Heifer Partner Families Cooperative, Masika Organization, Bun-ayan Organization, Maggon RIC Organization, Palpalidan Livestock Growers, Suysuyoc Women’s Organization, RIC Lagan, Demang RIC, Lagawa Caputan Farmers Organization, Banao Farmers and Animal Raisers Association, Ub-ubbo Farmers Organization, Kabalikat Organization and Bansa Women’s Organization.
Qualified to avail are registered organizations, with 15 minimum members, and has submitted a copy of resolution requesting to be included in the program. First come, first serve basis shall also be followed. Organizations must seek approval to avail of the program from the respective Punong Barangay.
Pinayakan reported that there is no problem on the survival rate of the bounty chicks dispersed to the first batch of recipients in April. He gladly relayed that the first batch of recipients is expected to market poultry meat and eggs in July.
To guarantee the survival of the bounty chicks, the members of the organization underwent an orientation on proper poultry raising given by the Provincial Veterinary Office headed by Provincial Veterinarian Rodelio B. Bagawi. Information Education Campaign (IEC) materials on proper poultry raising were also provided to the recipients.
To ensure sustainability of the livelihood project, the Focal Person for PPDP, together with the staff of the Provincial Veterinary Office shall conduct continuous monitoring. Also, the recipient organizations are required to submit quarterly reports on the status of their poultry livelihood to the PPDP.
The program is a counter measure of the provincial government to meet the shortage of poultry production in Mountain Province, as poultry meat and eggs being sold in the market come from nearby provinces.
This is also a response to the result of the 2015 census of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that Mountain Province is considered as one of the poorest provinces in Northern Luzon.
It will be recalled that Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. together with the members of the SangguniangPanlalawigan immediately approved the allocation of 1.5 million pesos for the purchase of bounty chicks for dispersal to the identified organizations for income generation for the organizations and the members as well.
By Alpine L. Killa
