KNOWN as one of the leading provinces in the country in terms of livestock and poultry industry, Negros Occidental consistently looks back at the contribution of its development partners whom it calls achievers.
Adding meaning to this year’s edition of Panaad sa Negros Festival is the annual Provincial Veterinary Achievers Award of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
For this year, PVO has honored 18 individuals and groups from the public and private sector who contributed to the development of the province’s livestock and poultry industry.
The recognition is given to those who exhibit excellence, exemplary performance and consistent advocacy in support to the livestock and poultry development programs of the provincial government.
The annual award highlights the best practices and innovative ideas implemented and adapted by the awardees focusing on the whole value chain -- from production to marketing -- as well as sustainability.
It recognizes the potentials and attributes of the awardees that display their unique role as raisers, veterinarians and leaders which helps propel the industry.
Dr. Martin Samuel Manuel Torres of Bago City Veterinary Office and Dr. Placeda Lemana of PVO are this year’s Tatak Veterinarian awardees.
Tatak Veterinarian award is given to LGU veterinarian with exemplary performance in the development and implementation of livestock and poultry programs and projects, and PVO veterinarian with an outstanding accomplishment.
“We are grateful for the recognition, which is a motivation for us to continue improving our services to our stakeholders,” Torres said.
PVO District Field Unit VI is the outstanding district field unit while Bago City is the outstanding partner-LGU for the Provincial Rabies Prevention and Control Program.
The provincial government, through PVO, earlier crafted the Rabies Control Action Plan for 2019 as measure to lessen, if not eliminate, cases of the deadly virus in the province.
Lodilyn Pagunsan is the outstanding livestock coordinator while Ma. Chona Salas and Santiago Nietes are the outstanding field monitoring officer on livestock dispersal and redispersal, and outstanding farmworker, respectively.
“As we receive this award, we are assuring the province of our vigilance especially on the occurrence of pest and diseases which might affect our livestock and poultry sector,” Pagunsan in his response speech said.
Moreover, the Calvary Chapel Christian School received the outstanding academic institution on multiplier farm adaption and sustainability award.
For the outstanding agency and organization on promoting livestock development, it went to Manara Ata Tribal Council.
Other organizations emerged as awardees this year are Alliance of Hog Raisers Association in Negros Occidental as outstanding PVO organized association. The Bulahan nga Nanay Association, meanwhile, is the outstanding women’s association on livestock development awardee.
Other awardees are Joenilo Mamaed - outstanding paravet; Engineer Marilyn Manuel - outstanding partner on research and development; Mark Ezzer Ligan - outstanding young animal raiser; Timothy Gargantiel - outstanding agri-livestock technology advocate; Julieta Evelyn Aguillon - exemplary service awardee; and Alpha Grace Tupas - PVO employee of the year.
“The youth should be engaged in farming. If not, who will continue the role of feeding the nation? We might end up importing all our food if we stop farming,” Ligan shared.
This writer is the recipient of outstanding partner on public information and advocacy award. PVO has recognized the role of the media, especially SunStar Bacolod, in telling stories that can spur development and inspire other stakeholders of the local livestock and poultry sector.
Also, it gave a special citation to Marlon Cajenta, who is the Gawad Saka 2018 awardee for outstanding small animal raiser.
The awardees received trophies, plaques, certificates and cash prizes.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, who spoke at the awarding rites at the Provincial Livestock and Dairy Fair Area at the Panaad Park in Bacolod City yesterday, said the awardees are “models” as they set as examples to others in helping the local livestock and poultry industry to grow.
Decena said these implementers and partners have worked hard in making the last year’s programs and projects of PVO become more efficient and effective.
“Congratulations to the awardees for exemplifying your works in your respective field of specialization works in specialization,” he said, stressing that “the challenge for the awardees is to work hard again because they are models of their offices, LGUs and communities.”