MinDA Livestock Program! BARMM TO RAISE CATTLE, OTHERS PRODUCE HOGS

With Lanao del Sur taking the lead, provinces in the Bangsamoro Region will be engaged in a Cattle Production Program which aims to supply the needs of the residents in the region and other provinces in Mindanao.

Predominantly Christian Provinces, on the other hand, will be asked to establish modern hog breeding facilities to jumpstart the implementation of the “Islands of Hope” Program to boost pork supply.

Both programs are aimed at ensuring self-sufficiency for beef and pork for Mindanao’s 25.5-million population with the excess production to be shared with other consumers in Visayas and Luzon.

The Development Bank of the Philippines, MinDA’s financing partner, will be supporting the programs with a 2% interest rate and the other 2.5% subsidized by the national government under the Economic Recovery Program.

The Cattle and Hog Production Programs will initially target the requirements of the local market to ensure sufficiency of beef and pork for Mindanao residents.

With an estimated gestation period of 18 months, the Cattle Program in the Bangsamoro Provinces is expected to start producing beef initially for their own consumers.

The Hog Production Program, on the other hand, is expected to start production after two years.

Yesterday, I accompanied Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. and a delegation from his province in a tour of a Cattle

Fattening Facility in Polomolok, South Cotabato managed by Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Livestock Consultant Arnel Corpuz.

Next week, I will meet with Gov. Adiong and officials of the Development Bank of the Philippines to start negotiations for the establishment of a 100-head cattle fattening facility in Wao town, Lanao del Sur.

After the engagement with Gov. Adiong, the MinDA team met with Q-Pigs Corporation owners Joaquin “Jake” Lu in General Santos City to finalize the MinDA Hog Development Program concept to boost hog production in Mindanao.

During the discussions, Jake Lu suggested that selected predominantly Christian Provinces in Mindanao will champion the Hog Development Program by establishing breeder farms which would supply fatteners to the “Hogstel” in localities free from the African Swine Fever (ASF).

Initially, Davao del Norte and North Cotabato have been identified as prospective participants in the Mindanao Hog Development Program.

Next week, MinDA officials will start coordinating with other prospective participants in the programs.

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!

#GovernanceIsCommonSense!

#letswalkanextrakilometer!

(Photos of the visit to the Adelaide River Farm and the meeting with Jake Lu yesterday were taken by Mayette Tudlas, MinDA OC)