The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday distributed livelihood assistance to 1,000 duck raisers in the towns of Candaba and San Luis.
The event, held in Barangay Bahay Pare in Candaba, marked the first government support program for the duck-raising sector.
DA Secretary Francisco Laurel, Pampanga 4th District Representative Anna York Bondoc, and Candaba Mayor Rene Maglanque led the distribution of feed subsidy vouchers worth up to P30,000 per beneficiary.
Bondoc said Pampanga is currently the country’s top producer of duck eggs and balut.
She lamented however that duck raisers do not received the same level of support as rice farmers.
“Pampanga, particularly Candaba, San Luis, Apalit, and San Simon, produces 60% of the country’s balut and itlog na pula, yet there has been no direct assistance for them. We pushed for this program to address that gap,” Bondoc said.
She added that duck raisers have faced setbacks in recent years due to the pandemic and avian influenza.
“Maraming tulong ang ibinibigay sa mga rice farmers pero nagtanong ako ano ang suporta sa mga mag-iitik. They said zero. Nung pandemic, ang laki ng lugi ng mga mag-iitik dahil nag-stop ang pagbili, tapos nagkaroon pa ng bird flu,” Bondoc said.
Laurel assured that this is just the beginning of a long-term program for duck raisers.
He vowed to integrate them into the country’s food security strategy.
“Very important ito kasi ang nakita ko sa Vietnam, hand in hand ang rice farmers and duck raisers para tuluy-tuloy ang production at ibig sabihin, tuluy-tuloy ang kita,” Laurel said.
Maglanque thanked the national government for its support to the duck industry in their municipality.
He cited the significant contribution of the Candaba duck raisers to the country's food supply.
He said Candaba produces over one million eggs daily, which are distributed to various parts of the country.
“Nagpapasalamat kami na nakita na ang industriya ng pag-iitik at magiging yearly na raw itong programa,” Maglanque said.
He added that the initiative could encourage the youth to pursue farming.
“Kapag may suporta ang gobyerno, mas mahihikayat natin ang mga kabataan na magsaka. Maiiwasan natin ‘yung takot na baka pagdating ng panahon, wala ng gustong magsaka sa atin,” Maglanque said.