Launched two years ago by Rizal Mayor Marcelo de la Cruz, the project started with the distribution of 10 heads of ducks to each family to raise. Now, every household claims to be raising at least 200 heads of ducks. A duck sells at P200-P250 each.
Ducks, which have become a favorite menu here, known as pinikpikan, used to be an unconventional food to lowland settlers in Rizal.
Pinikpikan, introduced by early settlers coming from Mt. Province, is a native style of preparing a delicacy by slowly beating a live duck to death and burning its feathers in the process.
Duck meat with coagulated blood and cooked with some burned feathers gives a distinct savor well cued to the Cordilleran tongue. It is even served better if spiced with etag or dried salted pork.
Pinikpikan has also found favor with the lowlanders in the town hence demand for ducks has soared.
For small family affairs, ducks could provide well as preference for menus.
Duck-raising gained demand out of the natural clamor among residents and is now becoming a major source of livelihood. This also gave birth to the town's new tradition of celebrating the Pinikpikan Festival last March 24.
