THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental has forged collaboration with 10 local government units (LGUs) to strengthen the implementation of animal genetic improvement program in the province.

The memorandum of collaboration was signed during the monthly consultative meeting of the PVO and members of Poultry and Livestock Association of Negros Occidental (Plano) in Himamaylan City recently.

It mainly covers the implementation of Swine Artificial Insemination (AI) and Laboratory Center project among recipient-localities.

These swine AI and laboratory centers were established by the provincial government and will be managed directly by the LGU.

Initially, there will be four centers to be established this year.

Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said they already inaugurated that in Cadiz City, while those in Himamaylan City, Candoni and E.B. Magona are still under construction.

Decena said the project is under the PVO's Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement Program (Pagip) which aims to boost livestock production as a major industry of the province.

"It will contribute to the promotion and enhancement of agriculture and food through swine production under the Abanse Negrense Development Agenda of the provincial government," he added.

Other recipients-LGUs of the project are Bago City, Calatrava, Cauayan, Escalante City, Moises Padilla through Central Philippine State University, and Sagay City through Northern Negros State College and Science and Technology.

Also, Private stakeholders like Unahco and Pigrolac Feeds voluntarily extended support to the project.

Decena said these groups committed to augment the center's operation by providing additional 10 heads of boar, semen refrigerator and other A.I. paraphernalia such as catheters and semen extenders for free.

The Plano, on the other hand, will support the PVO and LGUs by ensuring wide coverage and substantial number of clients served by the AI facility.

Decena said this is through mobilizing and encouraging members and technicians to perform AI in their respective service areas.

"The association will also work on informing and educating swine raisers in the area to use or adopt AI as a proven breeding technology that helps improve swine productivity and profitability," he added.