• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Occidental provincial government distributed on Wednesday, Nov. 11 some P8.259 million worth of livestock, poultry, and agricultural support equipment to farmers and other beneficiaries as part of its continuing efforts to provide additional livelihood opportunities in the countryside.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the ceremonial turnover at the Provincial Capitol grounds to the 36 associations and cooperatives, two farm schools, one local government unit, and 46 individual farmers from various cities and municipalities.
The assistance includes 60 piglet weaners, 1,000 Itik Pinas growers, 300 Itik Pinas ducklings, 650 free-range chickens, and 20 ready-to-breed carabaos.
Also distributed were 32 bags of duck feeds, 23 duck egg incubators, 239 doses of frozen cattle semen, and a dump truck for farm operations.
Lacson said the animal dispersal program is a continuing initiative of the provincial government, emphasizing that beneficiaries are carefully selected to ensure the animals distributed will be properly raised and maintained.
He stressed that the government wants the livestock and poultry assistance to provide farmers with additional sources of income and livelihood.
The initiative forms part of the Provincial Swine Industry Recovery Initiatives and Animal Genetic Improvement and Livelihood Programs under the Abanse Negrense priority development agenda.
The livestock and other assistance were sourced from Negros First Ranch in Murcia, Provincial Livestock Breeding Center and Dairy Farm in La Carlota City, and the province’s 2026 20-percent Development Fund. | GPB
