BEING able to sustain its development programs and projects, Negros Occidental has remained to be a benchmark location for livestock and poultry industry in the country.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, who met with officials of the Provincial Government of Eastern Samar at his office in Bacolod City on Friday, said the group is looking at the province as "ideal" area for replication.
The group of five department heads, who are members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), including the provincial veterinarian of the Eastern Visayas province, visited the city for a benchmarking activity.
Decena said after meeting the members of the BAC of the City Government of Bacolod, they visited the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) here and toured at Negros First Ranch in Murcia as well as other veterinary projects in the province.
"Negros Occidental has been a model province in terms of agriculture especially livestock and poultry development since the time of former Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala," he said, adding that "being a location for benchmarking, it means that we are able to sustain the initiatives making us advance than other provinces in the country."
The visiting officials told Decena that they are pushing for prioritization of development projects in Eastern Samar.
In terms of agriculture development, particularly livestock and poultry, among the possible programs of Negros Occidental they will replicate include creation of paravet associations, hog raisers associations, and other PVO organizations like that for goat and cattle.
They are also interested in the province's production methodology including its dispersal and genetic improvement.
Decena said the Eastern Samar officials were amazed of the projects especially those for livelihood, which are timely and appropriate to be replicated as one major problem in their province is poverty.
"They asked for data and information from our office. In fact, they even expressed intention to have sisterhood agreement for them to really replicate our programs which are already institutionalized," Decena said.
He added that aside from having laboratory, quarantine, and farms, the visitors also lauded the province's measure on establishing the District Offices mainly to ensure fast delivery of extension services.
In terms of sustainability, most livestock and poultry industry development programs in Negros Occidental are implemented through local ordinances.
Decena said this is further strengthened by having breeding farms, personnel, and people's organizations who are already organized and partners for development now.
"We also have artificial insemination and semen processing. We already have complete ingredients to sustain the industry," he said.
Decena said like in Negros Occidental, the Eastern Samar officials are also pushing for the stronger participation of the raisers to the initiatives of the government.
"According to them, of all the provinces they visited, we are advanced in terms of technology for livestock," he said, stressing that "we continue to open our doors to other provinces who would like benchmark with our programs and best practices."
PVO is composed of professionals and well-trained and motivated personnel, which is one key strength of the province, Decena added.