By Leilanie Adriano/PNA
LAOAG CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) will provide livelihood assistance to Ilocos residents who were hard hit by Typhoon Ompong and the prolonged habagat or monsoon rains.
The Provincial Veterinary Office on Tuesday met with beneficiaries at the provincial auditorium for the signing of memorandum of agreement prior to the distribution of animal dispersal program set on January 22.
Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Loida Valenzuela said about 100 pigs with feeds supplement and 100 goats will be distributed next week.
“We were informed by the DA Regional Field Office that these will just be the initial distribution to be given to livestock raisers and farmers whose animals were lost or perished at the height of the calamity,” she said.
It was agreed that once the animals produce an offspring, the beneficiary will give it back to the municipality and turn it over to the next beneficiary.
This applies not only to beneficiaries of the pig and goat dispersal but also among raisers of large ruminants (cattle), who are recipients of the program.
It may be recalled that President Rodrigo Duterte committed to provide livelihood assistance to those heavily affected after the onslaught of “Ompong” last September.
The release of aid, however, took some time as the municipal and city agriculture offices have to conduct their own validation first.
