The ceremonial breaking of ground and burying of the time capsule in the future location of the 30-Sow Level Swine Multiplier Techno Demo Farm" in Brgy. Lilo-an, Malinao, Aklan.
MALINAO, Aklan – ATI Region 6, Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 6 (DA-RFO 6), the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Aklan and Malinao, and the Integrated Barangay of Numancia Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IBON MPC) embark the 30-Sow Level Swine Multiplier Techno Demo Farm in Barangay Lilo-an on August 2, 2023 through the Groundbreaking Ceremony.
Dir. Remelyn R. Recoter, ATI National Director; Mary Ann A. Ramos, ATI Region 6's Center Director; Malinao Municipal Mayor Hon. Josephine I. Iquiña; Aklan Provincial Veterinarian Ma. Cyrosa Leen Mabel C. Siñel, DVM; Provincial Agriculturist Alexys T. Apolonio, representing Aklan Provincial Governor Jose Enrique M. Miraflores; Punong Barangay Manuel I. Tomilloso; IBON MPC Chairperson Stineli F. Barios; and IBON MPC General Manager Arnulfo T. Magcope conducted the ceremonial ribbon cutting, groundbreaking, and burying of the time capsule.
The building will have complete facilities required for a multiplier-techno demo farm, such as a climate-controlled (tunnel-ventilated) animal house, waste management facility, biosecurity facility, and marketing area, the establishment of an Artificial Insemination (AI) center, and procurement of breeders and supplies such as feed raw materials, supplements, drugs, and biologics.
Following the ceremonies, Mr. Magcope welcomed all the guests to the 2.5-hectare venue and future location of the techno demo farm. He said the event marked a new venture for the cooperative and ATI.
Dir. Recoter expressed her aspiration that this establishment will become the training and extension area on swine multiplier, which will benefit Barangay Lilo-an and the Municipality of Malinao.
In response to the messages of support, Ms. Barios expressed the cooperative's commitment to look after the project, abide by all the applicable rules and regulations, and continue to serve the people of Malinao and the entire province of Aklan. She added that they will uphold the cooperative's tagline – "IBON MPC's service is our business."
The IBON MPC is one of the recipients of the "30-Sow Level Swine Multiplier Techno Demo Farm" in Western Visayas. A project funded by the DA-National Livestock Program (DA-NLP), under the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for the Recovery and Expansion (I.N.S.P.I.R.E.) Program of the department and implemented through the ATI Region 6 and DA-RFO 6. The I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Program aims to implement a calibrated repopulation and enhancement of the local swine industry to recover the sector's capacity to produce sufficient supplies of hogs and pork locally, considering that the country now faces challenges because of the African Swine Fever (ASF).
