Bontoc. Mountain Province – Much more 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 April 18, 2017.
Funded by the Provincial Government of Mountain Province in line with the “Barangay Muna Program”, the chicken dispersal project aims to help organizations in the province augment their income.
Focal Person for Provincial Poultry Development Program June C. Pinayakan of the Office of the Governor said that the first 10 batches of organizations who benefitted from the program were provided with 100 heads of bounty chicks each. The chickens’ housing and food supply will be the counterpart of the organizations.
To ensure synchronized and orderly distribution of chicks to recipients, it was planned that chicken dispersal will benefit first 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.
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 was cheduled in the coming months.
Qualified to avail are registered organizations, with 15 minimum members, and has submitted a copy of a resolution requesting to be included in the program on a first come, first served basis.
Pinayakan recalled that that the program was conceptualized as a counter measure of the provincial government to the shortage of poultry production in Mountain Province, as poultry meat and eggs being sold in the market come 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 provinces in Northern Luzon.
Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. 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 the bounty chicks 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.
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 reports on the status of their poultry to the Focal Person for Provincial Poultry Development Program.**Alpine L. Killa, PIO-MP
