VINTAR, Ilocos Norte - Despite the threat of COVID-19, the National Livestock Program (NLP) of the Department of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center I (ATI-RTC I), awarded 496 free-range chicken (FRC) to 31 Barangay Animal Health Workers (BAHWs) in Vintar, Ilocos Norte on June 3, 2020. This is an extension support to the said recipients who completed the three-month Farmer Poultry School (FPS) on Free Range Chicken Production last August 2019.

Each of the BAHWs received 16 FRC, wherein they are required to give back at least 80% or 12 heads of FRC from their produce to another set of beneficiaries as part of the agreed payment scheme. “Akala ko nuon hindi kailangan alagaan ang mga manok ng maayos pero noong nagtraining ako nito napag alaman ko na madami palang pwedeng gawin at kailangan ng mausisang pag-aalaga sa mga manok. Mula sa pag-incubate hanggang mapisa, sa pagpapailaw, pagbabakuna, nutrisyon at pabahay , lahat ng ito ay natutunan sa training. Very useful kasi may mga native na manok kami at pwede ko itong isagawa sa amin. Lalo na kung nagkasakit hindi na kami mag-aalinlangan kung anong gamot ang aming ibibiga . Maraming salamat po sa ATI, OPVet at LGU-Vintar,” Mr. Jeosher Agron, one of the graduates of FPS, said during the culmination of the awarding ceremony.

The collaborating agencies to include ATI-RTC I, Provincial Veterinary Office of Ilocos Norte, and Office of Local Government Unit of Vintar, promised to support the beneficiaries in marketing their produce to encourage them to sustain the project.