FOR farmer-raisers in Negros Occidental, animal production is not just a means of living. This is also a commitment to help boost the province, keeping its standing as one of the country’s livestock and poultry industry prime movers.
The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, through the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), will once again recognize outstanding local animal raisers in the province through the “Pasidungong sa mga Manugsagod sang Kasapatan 2017.”
The annual province-wide search, now on its seventh year, highlights the raisers’ contribution as partners of the Provincial Government in implementing various programs and measures geared towards the development of the local livestock and poultry industry.
The initiative is also aimed at encouraging more animal raisers in the province to further improve their production in order to generate more livelihood opportunities for their families and community as well.
For this year, PVO names 22 winners who have excelled in different areas of livestock and poultry development.
Sixth District dominated the individual category for bagging five of the 15 awards.
Ernesto Mendoza of Cauayan is this year’s outstanding backyard swine raiser. Also from the same town, Lorie Pinsoy won as most innovative animal raiser.
Kabankalan City also has two winners: Elmo Carbajosa as outstanding dairy cattle raiser and Ruel Rodriguez as outstanding sheep raiser. Joseph Pasague of Hinoba-an, on the other hand, is the province’s outstanding duck raiser.
First District has four winners namely Jaime Encabo Jr. as outstanding beef cattle raiser, Dr. Romeo Agraviador Jr. as outstanding integrated farming practitioner, Fritzie Dolocanog as outstanding livestock and poultry entrepreneur, and Elmer Reyes Jr. as outstanding technician in artificial insemination for large animals.
Other individual category winners are Ma. Teresa Gasataya of Hinigaran (Fifth District), outstanding backyard egg producer; Hermano Percival of Talisay City (Third District), outstanding carabao raiser; Board Member Samson Mirhan of Cadiz City (Second District), outstanding goat raiser; Joselito Montinola of E.B. Magalona (Third District), outstanding free-range chicken raiser; Atty. Henry Yap of Bago City (Fourth District), outstanding animal tourism advocate; and Albert Javier of Manapla (Second District), outstanding technician in artificial insemination for swine.
Sixth District has maintained its lead in the group category through garnering five of the seven awards.
They are Mary Ann Nitor and family from Candoni as outstanding family in livestock production, Kabankalan Animal Breeding and Genetic Improvement Center as outstanding animal breeding center, Hinoba-an Animal Breeding and Pasture Development Center as outstanding LGU in pasteur development, Cauayan Hog Raisers Association as outstanding association in animal genetic improvement, and City of Kabankalan Poultry and Livestock Raisers Marketing Cooperative (Cokplimarco) most cooperative association in the implementation of Negros First Animal Livelihood Program.
The other two awards such as outstanding volunteer association on animal health services and outstanding association in animal product development were given to Pulupandan Paravet Association (Fourth District) and La Castellana Hog Raisers Association (Fifth District), respectively.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the annual search is a strong manifestation that the Provincial Government recognizes the efforts of local raisers especially in helping maintain a resilient livestock and poultry industry.
Decena urged animal raisers to also share the benefits of the projects they received from the province to their respective community.
“May they maintain the goodness in livestock and poultry animal raising,” he said, stressing that the strong collaboration between the provincial government and other stakeholders, especially the raisers and LGUs, is a vital factor that enables Negros Occidental as one of the consistent leader-provinces in terms of animal production.
Moreover, the individual category winners will each receive P20,000 cash prizes while every awardee for group category is getting P25,000.
They will form part of the “Pasidungog sa Panguma, Pangisda kag Pangkasapatan” awardees this year. The awarding rites will be held at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City on April 29.
The activity is part of the week-long celebration of Panaad sa Negros Festival, which will run from April 22 to 30. This year’s theme is “Panaad: Shining bright at 24.”