Mayor Boyboy sees livestock as “fishing tension reducer”

PRES. GARCIA - REDUCING the tension of over-fishing in this island town has become quite a challenge, but Mayor Fernando “Eping” Boyboy determined that a reinvigorated livestock production could be one viable method. Spurring economic life of the island-folks through livestock and poultry production has been a town cry for years but the option could not easily move with poverty still rating high in the town's 23 barangays. So when the two-day Barangay Livestock Aides (Bala) Basic and Refresher Training Course was held at the ABC Hall of the town last July 11-12 participated in by 19 participants and trainees, he was ecstatic of as he welcomed the participants and trainors.

In his message, the local chief executive stressed that fishing has been the main source of livelihood here considering that the island lies amidst the richest fishing grounds. While poverty nags the town, illegal fishing and simply adding fishing tension to the seas pose a non-sustainable threat with almost every family dreaming of owning a pumpboat for fishing. Recently however, attention is being shifted to backyard farming with swine, chicken, cattle, carabao getting the full support of the local government unit.

Boyboy thanked the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian with Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz for spearheading the re-orientation training of the Balas in coordination with the local DA-Office led by Gaudencio Lagura and Livestock Technician Celso Basilad. Municipal Agricultural Officer Lagura revealed that President Garcia has the biggest dispersal program on carabao, cattle, goat in the entire province. Lecturers during the training were Dr. Roberto “Bobby” Castro from the Agricultural Training Institute in Tagbilaran City and Josefina Ladera of the Provincial Veterinarian Office.

Dr. Castro talked on the importance of biologics administration on small and large animals including chickens to prevent infliction of chronic diseases especially during rainy days. He also cautioned Balas that they must observe the 12 basic guidelines on vaccination procedures, proper administration of vitamins and other nutrient components and animal health care services to ensure safety of the animals. For his part, Ladera stressed on the importance of forage for cattle, carabao and goat as main source of food ensure faster growth and good nutrition. She also encouraged Balas to convince farmers for the massive planting of different kinds of forage for their animals daily feed requirements. At the practicum, the Balas demonstrated the castration of three goats, vaccination of 13 cattle's, two carabaos, one dog with livestock technician Celso Basilad leading the group.

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