Pangasinan stands to benefit P4M worth of livelihood loan program from DA

LINGAYEN --- Pangasinan is a recipient of the P4 million worth of livestock livelihood loan assistance program under the Department of Agriculture’s Medium Term Agricultural Development Program (MTADP).


This was disclosed by Dr. Eric Jose Perez, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVET), in a recent interview, saying that livestock animals --native pigs, free-range chicken and goats--are now ready for distribution to various farmers’ associations of the province.


The MTADP is the country’s food security program which aims to fight poverty and malnutrition by helping the Filipinos meet the daily nutritional needs requirement that are derived from meat and poultry products.


Perez said a memorandum of agreement is set to be signed on September 3 by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. together with Regional Executive Director Valentino Perdido in the ceremonial launching of the program to be held at the Pangasinan Development and Training Center here.


A provincial resolution which gives authority to Gov. Espino to sign a MOA is one of the agenda of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) in its regular session on Monday.


About 10 farmers’ associations including the province’s breeding stations in Dasol, Mangatarem, San Quintin and Natividad will benefit from the program.


The DA will be distributing 18 female and two male goats, 225 heads of chicken, 28 female and 10 male native pigs to each beneficiary.


The OPVET chief said it has a multiplier effect as the program would be implemented via a “roll-over scheme” wherein a farmer-beneficiary is obliged to repay his loan by passing on the piglets in its first farrowing to the qualified beneficiary to be determined by LGU.


“This allows as many farmers to be benefitted by the program which complements with Gov. Espino’s development thrust of a sustainable livestock production program,” said Perez.



Aside from technical assistance, the OPVET, in coordination with the municipal agriculture office, will conduct a regular monitoring on the project to ensure its success.


The DA’s provision of loan assistance to the province was a result of a proposal of the vet office to strengthen the livelihood industry in the province