Christmas came early in Negros Occidental as members of the Negros Swine Integrated Enterprise gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Rehabilitation of Piggery Building and Construction of Feed Mill in La Castellana.

Department of Agriculture -6 Regional Executive Director and DA- PRDP – Project Support Office Project Director Remelyn R. Recoter said “the rehabilitation of piggery building and construction of feed mill plays an important part in the swine industry of Negros Occidental because of the backyard aspect of swine production.”

Negros Occidental registers a 90:10 ratio of backyard and commercial hog raising, respectively.

The ceremonial groundbreaking of the Rehabilitation of Piggery Building and Construction of Feed Mill of the Negros Swine Integrated Enterprise in La Castellana, Negros Occidental. It is the largest subproject in the Visayas cluster of the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project amounting to 34,718,538.86.

Based on the post-structure analysis by the experts, 50 – 60% of cost production is allocated to feeds to produce one hog.

“With this feed mill, with the help of the different associations, we are hoping to reduce the percentage of cost production since you will be the ones to produce the feeds,” added Dir. Recoter.

The Province of Negros Occidental is the 2nd hog producing province in Region 6, with Iloilo on the top spot.  It contributes 2.47% of the whole region’s output in swine production.

Amounting to P34,718,538.86, the Negros Swine Integrated Enterprise is the largest subproject in the Visayas cluster under the I-REAP (Enterprise) Component of the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project.

The La Castellana 1 Personnel Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LC 1 – PMPC) is the lead proponent, together with eight other associations namely: La Castella Hog Raisers Association; Victorias Integrated Livestock Raisers Association, Asosasyon ng Magbababoy sa Salvador Benedicto; Manapla Hog Raisers Association; Binalbagan Hog Raisers Association; Murcia Hog Raisers Association; Talisay Backyard Hog Raisers Association; and Himamaylan Paravets and Hog Raisers Association. It has a total membership of 1,008 beneficiaries.

In her message, LC-1 PMPC Chairperson Judith B. Obordo extended her gratitude for the realization of the project.

“In 2015, the LC-1 was given the privilege to be tapped as the lead proponent group of the biggest I-REAP subproject undertaking in Region 6. We never knew then the implication accepting the project would entail. We know more challenges will be coming, but as the officers and members of the LC 1-PMPC, we assure you that we are going to uphold the trust and confidence given to us to ensure the success of the project. We hope that we could live up to the expectations extended to us,” said Obordo.

“We are doing this not for the glory but because of the impact this enterprise will have on the lives of our hog-raiser members in Negros as well as being a big boost in the security and food production program of the provincial government,” she added.

Director Recoter, on the other hand, challenged the proponent group “to make this project successful. The PRDP team, together with the provincial and municipal government are here to ensure that.”

She also acknowledged the strong leadership of Governor Alfredo Marañon for his active and generous contribution in undertaking PRDP, especially with the Project’s counterpart scheme.

Department of Agriculture -6 Regional Executive Director and DA- PRDP – Project Support Office Project Director Remelyn R. Recoter said “the rehabilitation of piggery building and construction of feed mill plays an important part in the swine industry of Negros Occidental because of the backyard aspect of swine production.”

“Right now, there are about 900 million pesos worth of approved subprojects in Negros Occidental. This is huge, as compared to other provinces. Aside from supporting enterprise subprojects, the Province has availed of infrastructure subprojects such as farm-to-market roads, bridges, feeder port, and feed mill, among others,” said Dir. Recoter.

Also present during the groundbreaking ceremony were DA-PRDP National Deputy Project Director (DPD) Engr. Cirilo N. Namoc; PSO Visayas DPD Engr. Jose Albert A. Barrogo, Regional Project Coordination Office – DPD Manuel O. Olanday and Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. himself. (September Noon A. Macahilo, PSO InfoACE)