Negros Occ. to import chicks from Manila

BACOLOD CITY—The Negros Occidental provincial government is importing chicks from Manila as a long-term solution to the egg and chicken shortage that hit the province following Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

Provincial veterinarian Renante Decena on Friday said Negros Occidental has a monthly demand of nine million eggs.

Since the province produces only around five million eggs monthly, it needs to make up for the four million deficit by sourcing it from Bantayan Island in Cebu province.

But with the Bantayan egg industry practically wiped out after the island was hit by Yolanda, Negros Occidental has had to look to places like Batangas to meet the shortfall in the supply of eggs, Decena said.

At present, the supply of eggs in wet markets and groceries in Negros Occidental has decreased. The shortage in supply has resulted in an increase in prices, which have gone up by as much as P1.20 each over the previous price of P5 to P5.50, he said.

There are also less dressed chickens in the market, Decena said.

The provincial government will disperse the imported chicks to multiplier farms.

It is importing 2,000 chicks to augment its stock at its breeder multiplier farms in the cities of Sipalay, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Cadiz and Sagay, Barangay (village) Ma-ao in Bago City and Hinobaan and Calatrava towns, Decena said.

Grown chicken will then be distributed to backyard farmers, along with egg machines to increase the supply in various areas of the province, he added.

Decena said Yolanda caused damages of P31.3 million to poultry and P26.2 million to livestock in Negros Occidental, or a total of P57.5 million. The bulk of the losses in the two sectors was felt in the second district.

He said the provincial government had allocated P5 million to mitigate livestock and poultry losses. Of this amount, P2 million would be spent to buy chicks and chickens.

The Department of Agriculture also committed P16.5 million in assistance to the province, P8.4 million of which would be for animal dispersal, P5.6 million for pasture rehabilitation and P2.5 million for the repair of animal breeding centers, he said.

These projects are expected to be implemented by the first quarter of next year.