Real Governance! Barangay Govt. Utilizes Funds For Backyard Chicken Production

Two days ago, officials of a village in a town near Kidapawan City led by the Barangay Chief came to my farm to ask for my help in starting a free-range chicken raising project.
The barangay chieftain and the councilors said they have P100,000 available funds and rather than spend these for the fiesta or other activities, they wanted to give each community cluster or “Purok” a set of the Manok Pinoy free-range chicken which I developed.
“Manok Pinoy” is new strain of dual-purpose free-range chicken which I developed 12 years ago and is registered with the Intellectual Property Office as my creation.
I breed the Manok Pinoy in my farm now and share the breeding materials with other farmers for a very affordable price of P3,500 for one set comprising of 1 cockerel or male and 5 pullets or young females.
I was impressed with the mindset of the officials because this was what I had long been advocating, that government funds should be used for projects which would improve the lives of the people rather than squander these for non-essential projects like search for “Mr. Macho Gay” contest or basketball tournament.
When I was Governor of North Cotabato for nine years, barangay chairmen who came to me asking for financial support for their fiesta activities were made to choose – Fiesta or Kalsada?
In almost all of those cases, the barangay chairmen picked “Kalsada” over spending money for the “Fiesta.”
I have long disapproved of spending government funds for the construction of gymnasiums, waiting sheds, barangay stage, “Lakbay-Aral” and beauty contests.
While I am no longer in government, I still advocate the same mindset for our officials.
Tama na yang “Tarpaulin Governance” announcing accomplishment and posting greetings on graduation and other nonsense programs.
To support the project of the Barangay, I set a condition that before I give out the Manok Pinoy breeding materials to each of the Purok officials, there will be an orientation first on how to properly raise the Manok Pinoy.
I and my son, Bernhart Immanuel, a veterinary medicine student, will teach them how to feed, breed and take care of their chicken before I will release the breeding materials to them.
As my support to the project, I also told the Barangay Chief that we will sign a “Buy-Back” agreement which would stipulate that whatever free-range chicken they will produce, I will buy back.
This aligns with my plan to set up an outlet for Manok Pinoy “Lechon” and “Barbecue.”
It is my wish that other barangay officials will also have the same mindset, livelihood projects over the Search for Mutya ng Kakawate.
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
(First photo shows a 3 1/2 month old Manok Pinoy cockerel weighing 1.18-kilos which at current live price of P250 per kilo would earn the farmer P295. If he raises 100 monthly, he would earn P29,500.)