BONTOC, Mountain Province – Poultry meat and eggs are hoped to be produced by local livestock farmers in the province following the dispersal of three to four weeks old “bounty chickens” to the first batch of organizations on April 18, 2017.
Funded by the Provincial Government of Mountain Province in line with the “Barangay Muna Program”, the chicken dispersal program aims to help organizations in the province generate income and augment financial constraints of the beneficiaries.
Focal Person for Provincial Poultry Development Program June C. Pinayakan of the Office of the Governor said that the first 10 batch of organizations who benefitted from the program were provided with 100 heads of bounty chicks each. The chicken’s housing and food supply shall be the counterpart of the organizations.
To ensure synchronized and orderly distribution of chicks to the recipients, it was planned that chicken dispersal will benefit first to the organizations in District II covering the municipalities of Sabangan, Sagada, Tadian, Bauko and Besao. Also, the provincial government targets one organization in every barangay to ensure equal distribution of poultry.
The first batch of recipients are the Patay Sumya-an Women’s Organization, Matago Organization, Manapanawil Bagnen Irrigators Association, Kataguan Organization, Mt. Kalawitan Apa Guide Association, Bangon Organization, Charitable Leadership Group Livestock Research Association, Suni Organization and Bomod-ok Alig Association. Dispersal of bounty chicks to other identified organizations is scheduled in the following months.
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.
Pinayakan recalled that that program was conceptualized as a counter measure of the provincial government on the shortage of poultry production in Mountain Province, as poultry meat and eggs being sold in the market came from nearby provinces.
Pinayakan explained that the provincial government chose poultry and not swine production as it easier for the farmers to produce and more organizations will be catered to by the program.
This is also a response of the provincial government to the result of the 2015 census of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that Mountain Province is considered as one of the poorest province in Northern Luzon.
Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. together with the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, immediately approved the allocation of 1.5 million pesos for the purchase of bounty chicks to be dispersed to the identified organizations believing that these will be an income generating livelihood to the organizations and the members as well.
In his message during the turnover of bounty chicken to the first batch of recipients. Governor Lacwasan encouraged the members of the organizations to put their dedication and hard work in managing their poultry.
The governor is optimistic that the recipients will be able to produce poultry meat and eggs in the market that would also be an additional income to the members. He is also hopeful that the number of bounty chicks distributed to them will grow in the ensuing years.
Pinayakan also shared that members of the organization underwent an orientation on proper poultry raising which was conducted by the Provincial Veterinary Office headed by Provincial Veterinarian Rodelio B. Bagawi.
To ensure sustainability of the livelihood project, the Focal Person for Provincial Poultry Development Program, together with the staff of the Provincial Veterinary Office shall conduct continuous monitoring. Also, the recipient organizations are required to submit quarterly report on the status of their poultry livelihood to the Focal Person for Provincial Poultry Development Program.
By Alpine L. Killa
