BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Provincial Government through its Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in coordination with the IGawis Rabbitpreneur Association (IRA), is conducting the week-long and first Provincial Rabbit Expo at the Provincial Plaza.
During the opening program, Provincial Veterinarian Rodelio B. Bagawi said that the expo is one of the activities of the Provincial Government that aims to support the local rabbit raisers and promote rabbit as an alternative source of meat.
According to Bagawi, rabbit meat can be a healthy alternative to pork and chicken, and it is the highest in terms of protein source and has the lowest calories and fats content. Aside from meat, Bagawi said that souvenir items can also be made from rabbit fur.
He also commended the members of the IRA for forming the first ever rabbit raisers’ organization in Mountain Province for the development of rabbit business in the province.
It can be recalled that the PVO conducted a training on rabbit enterprise to more than 30 local raisers last September 9, this year, which also gave them an avenue to form their organization and elect their officers.
Meanwhile, June C. Pinayakan of the Provincial Legal Office relayed the message of Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr.. He urged the local rabbit entrepreneurs and other concerned agencies to work together in raising the awareness and acceptance of rabbit as an alternative source of protein in the province.
He also expressed the full support of the Governor to the IRA because he believes that rabbit business has a big potential in the local market.
Moreover, Ezra Samson A. Gomez, Sangguniang Panlalawigan chairperson for Committee on Agriculture and Agrarian Reform extended the support of his office to the local rabbit raisers’ organization. As a former rabbit raiser himself, he attested to the great potential of rabbit production as a business because they multiply fast and has a low cost of maintenance.
Furthermore, IRA President Harry Osboken expressed the association’s gratitude to the Provincial Government for its efforts in helping the local rabbit raisers. As the president, he assured to work with the members for the rabbit business to thrive in the province. By ESB