THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental has conducted its second simultaneous veterinary relief operation in the province, benefiting this time animal raisers in the Fourth District.

The PVO reported that the district incurred about P301,963 in livestock and poultry sector damage due to massive flooding brought about by heavy rains in the early part of January this year.

The veterinary relief operation on Wednesday, February 3, included treatment, consultation, deworming, vitamin B supplementation of pet and livestock animals, vaccination, distribution of veterinary drugs, medicines and biologics, as well as information and education (IEC) materials on livestock raising during the rainy season.

The PVO, through the Provincial Veterinary District Field Unit in District IV, also dispersed 300 heads of free-range chicks intended to replenish the stocks of the affected beneficiaries of the animal dispersal program.

Veterinarians and technical personnel in six identified barangays were deployed.

The six areas that have availed themselves of the veterinary relief operations were Barangay Alijis and Bayabas in Valladolid, Barangays Tabao Rizal and Baliwagan in San Enrique, and Barangay Antipolo, Sitio Camingawan and Cambarus in Pontevedra.

There were a total of 117 clients served for Valladolid. In San Enrique and Pontevedra, the PVO catered to 106 and 102 clients, respectively.

Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the veterinary relief operation is part of PVO's intervention in response to mitigation and recovery efforts intended for the affected poultry and livestock animal sector.

"Also, to enable animal raisers affected by calamities to recover and perform optimum level of productivity as well as preventing possible disease outbreak," he added.

On January 26, a simultaneous veterinary relief operation was also conducted in the province's Third District.

In Victorias City, the veterinary relief operations were conducted in badly-hit barangays such as Barangays 6A and 7 with 97 clients served.

About 101 clients have availed themselves of the relief operations in Barangays E. Lopez and Bagtic in Silay City, and another 131 beneficiaries in Barangay 14B in Talisay City.