By Erwin Nicavera/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) has coached a total of 252 para-veterinarians (paravets) from the six districts of Negros Occidental during a two-month competency training.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said on Monday that through the training, the participants were able to further enhance their knowledge, skills and capabilities in delivering basic animal health extension services in their respective villages.
The Level II Competency Training for paravets, which ran from Sept. 12 to Nov. 16, was held at the Provincial Livestock Breeding Center and Dairy Farm’s Paravet Training Academy in Barangay La Granja, La Carlota City.
Topics pertained to animal health management, including a discussion and understanding of Republic Act No. 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.
“They were also taught on the proper handling and restraint of animals, storage and handling of vaccines, and drug administration,” Decena said, adding that the paravets, as frontline service providers, were made to understand the importance of learning these techniques.
He added that the training activity also served as a venue to uphold the spirit of volunteerism through sharing of experiences among the paravets.
Decena noted that most of them have rendered voluntary services to the government for at least 20 years.
In August, the PVO also initiated cross-visits among the personnel of its district field units to boost veterinary services and enhance manpower capability.
The cross-visit is a development strategy implemented by the PVO to evaluate and observe the best practices among local livestock raisers and farm institutions.
The PVO has 32 field unit personnel in all six districts with offices in Toboso for District 1; Sagay City for District 2; EB Magalona for District 3; San Enrique for District 4; Hinigaran for District 5; and Kabankalan City and Cauayan for District 6.
