Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon---Bent in equipping the livestock and poultry raisers in the region with the appropriate farming technology and information, the Department of Agriculture’s MALASAKIT Program through a symposium focusing on Itik Pinas and Free-Range Chicken was mounted to instill in them the right farming knowledge.
The DA MAPAGMALASAKIT Program which is lodged under the National Livestock Program of the Department of Agriculture is on its full swing of a massive livestock advocacy campaign across the country. The program intends to purvey and extend to its farmer clients "Malawakang Pagbibigay Kaalaman sa Agrikultura: Magsasakang may Alam, Laging Angat, Sagana sa Kita (MAPAGMALASAKIT)". The one-day Back to Basics event covered discussions on livestock livelihood, poultry production, as well as issues concerning African Swine Fever (ASF).
“Apply the inputs and information you can get from our speakers today and we look forward that you can propagate the itik and the chicken as our support and assistance”, DA-RFO X OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado pointed out in his message.
DA-ASEC for Livestock Program William C. Medrano lauded the effort of the region for its strong bio-security procedure via quarantine foot bath to help prevent entry of highly contagious diseases. He also emphasized that livestock livelihood must be incorporated with enterprise development.
“Ang importante is naa moy makuha ug madala nga kaalaman ug teknolohiya sa inyong mga tagsa tagsa ka panimalay”, ATI-CO Director Alfredo S. Aton said in his message.
Meanwhile, the ATI-RTC X led by OIC-Center Director Maria Lydia A. Echavez extended full support of the recently concluded DA MAPAGMALASAKIT Program by deploying colleagues Admin Officer IV Efren C. Macario, HR Designate Aden Jade B. Bajo, Technical Support Staff Aleli Jean A. Paulican to help facilitate the event. OIC-Assistant Center Director Noemi Beth G. Macario delivered the rationale of the activity while Media Production Specialist Vic Thor A. Palarca and Information Agent Jeric L. Cabatac captured the event via documentation and social media posts. OIC-Center Director Echavez later gave her closing message to the farmer participants.
Attended by 300 livestock farmers around Northern Mindanao, a dispersal of Itik Pinas and Free Range Chicken transpired later that day with the release of the farmers' livelihood assistance. The one-day activity was held on October 4, 2019 at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
Some of the farmer recipients include participants from Maramag, Quezon, Impasugong, Kalilangan, MSU-Lanao Norte Agricultural College in Sultan Naga Dimaporo, LGU-Catarman, Aloran, Jimenez, Balingasag, Laguindingan, Gitagum, Balingoan, Baliangao, LGU-Tubod and Ozamiz.
Other dignitaries who graced the said event include DA-ASEC for Livestock Program William C. Medrano, ATI-CO Director Alfredo S. Aton, DA-RFO X OIC-RED Carlene C. Collado, DA-RFO X Livestock Program Focal Person Maria Lourdes M. Sypiecco, ATI-RTC X OIC-Center Director Maria Lydia A. Echavez, ATI-RTC X OIC-Assistant Center Director Noemi Beth G. Macario, NLP National Coordinator Dr. Roland Fajardo and Dr. Rene Santiago of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).