THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental is stepping up its effort to boost free-range chicken dispersal among districts in the province by tapping paraveterinarians (paravets).

PVO is giving priority to identified districts with less production of the animal based on its chicken road mapping.

“The program is seen to boost free-range production for 2019. All districts are expected to be saturated before the year ends,” it said, adding that PVO is really banking on paravets.

The province's effort in strengthening its various services to cater the needs of its clients is getting a boost through the paravets, who perform effective extension works in their respective barangays.

Paravets are barangay-based volunteers trained and mobilized as animal vaccinators to assist PVO technical personnel in conducting various veterinary extension services.

The road mapping and promotion of free-range chicken production is complemented by PVO's Paravet Development Program.

The latter involves capability-building through continuous conduct of technical, extension, and community development trainings at the Provincial Livestock Breeding Center and Dairy Farm in La Granja, La Carlota City.

Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said that, for over a decade, PVO has been extending support to paravets.

Decena said these volunteers have exhibited the “spirit” of volunteerism in the implementation of PVO programs and projects.

“They have touched and changed many lives of animal raisers in the province,” he added.

Moreover, PVO recognized that while paravets are instruments to the delivery of services and implementation of projects and programs, it also considers their welfare by providing livelihood assistance. (EPN)