LIBACAO, Aklan – A ₱13-million swine recovery project has been launched by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas to revive hog production in Libacao, Aklan and help local farmers bounce back from the effects of African Swine Fever (ASF).
The initiative, implemented under the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program, includes a ₱10-million multiplier farm and a ₱3-million livestock transport truck granted to the Libacao Development Cooperative (LDC).
The program aims to restore the local hog population while providing long-term livelihood solutions to ASF-affected communities.
The newly constructed facility boasts a tunnel-ventilated swine house, an artificial insemination semen laboratory, a biosecurity shower room, and a biogas system for sustainable waste management. It will serve as a breeding center housing Grandparent Stocks (GP) to produce Parent Stocks (PS), which will then be distributed to backyard hog raisers to help boost production in the municipality.
“This facility not only restores the lost hog population but, more importantly, revives the livelihood of ASF-affected farmers. With modern systems in place, we aim to inspire farmers to return to swine raising with confidence and sustainability,” said Glenn Mariano, DA Region 6 livestock program focal person.
Under the project’s terms, the cooperative is expected to redistribute 30% of the piglets and 30% of the processed semen produced to its members and other farmers in the locality over a period of three years. Upon fulfillment of this commitment, the DA will issue a Certificate of Ownership to the LDC.
Acting Libacao mayor John Randy Zapata welcomed the support, saying the project would significantly impact the town’s economy.
“Most of our constituents rely on agriculture for a living. This project is a vital step toward rebuilding their livelihoods and strengthening the local economy,” he said./PN
