Twenty-five farmer associations and civil society organizations from various towns and cities of Negros Occidental received a “balut (fertilized duck egg)” production project from the provincial government Oct. 21.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Board Members Manuel Frederick Ko and Andrew Montelibano, and provincial veterinarian, Dr. Placeda Lemana, led the ceremonial turnover of the project, worth P3.5 million, to identified beneficiaries.
The “Itik-Pinas (Duck) Raising for Balut Production” project, under the Expanded Livestock Production and Livelihood Development Program, through the Provincial Veterinary Office, includes the distribution of 5,000 heads of duckling (2-3 weeks old), 25 units of incubator with 250-egg capacity, and 50 bags of duck feed (50 kg/bag), the Capitol said.
The project aims to initially help fill in the gap in the supply of “balut” in the province, which is estimated at 700,000 pieces monthly; provides livelihood opportunities to farming communities and animal raisers affected by transboundary animal diseases; and supports the food efficiency initiatives of the province, under the Abanse Negrense Priority Development Agenda.
Meanwhile, boars were given to AI (artificial insemination) centers located in the cities of Escalante, Cadiz, Victorias, Bago, La Carlota, and Himamaylan, and the municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Murcia, Moises Padilla, and Candoni, as part of the continuing implementation of the Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement Program.
Lacson also recently turned over checks worth P12.5 million in all to 50 barangays from different cities and municipalities of the province, for various development projects.
These barangay development projects include the installation of solar streetlights, purchase of office equipment, furniture and appliances, construction of open canals, improvement of barangay stalls, repair of barangay hall perimeter fence, purchase of multi-purpose vehicles, construction of BDRRM and VAWC offices, improvement of water system, improvement and renovation of barangay hall, construction of covered court perimeter, and rehabilitation of farm to market roads, among others. ||
