Negros Occidental distributes more than 10,500 farm animals

Recipients of the Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office swine dispersal in April this year. (Photo courtesy of Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office)

BACOLOD CITY — A total of 10,533 heads of livestock and poultry animals have been distributed to various recipients by the Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) from January to July this year.

The farm animals, worth PHP3.8 million, were released through the Negros First Provincial Animal Dispersal Program — a component of the Negros First Animal Livelihood Program which aims to augment the livelihood of farmer-raisers in the province.

Over the weekend, Joselito Jaballa, PVO Livestock Services Division officer-in-charge, said the province’s animal dispersal and re-dispersal initiatives have contributed positively to the growth of the local livestock and poultry industry.

The program has enabled farmers to improve their livelihood while contributing to the overall production output of the province, he added.

In the first seven months of 2018, the PVO has dispersed 1,160 heads of swine worth PHP2.9 million; 8,486 free-range chicken totaling PHP635,000; 810 ducks amounting to PHP85,000; and 95 goat worth PHP250,000.

The recipients were 1,255 families, 80 non-government organizations and farmers associations, and 14 local government units.

Jaballa said for the rest of the year, they aim to dispersed 2,000 heads of swine as well as about 15,000 free-range chickens.

The PVO will also distribute another 1,500 ducks and 250 goats.