Ribbon cutting ceremony during the Inauguration of the Swine Artificial Insemination sa Barangay (SWAIB) in Brgy. Nazuni, Dingle, Iloilo
DINGLE, Iloilo – ATI Region 6 launches Iloilo's first Swine Artificial Insemination sa Barangay (SWAIB) Building on August 3, 2023, in Barangay Nazuni. The newly inaugurated building includes facilities for a climate-controlled (tunnel-ventilated) animal house, waste management facility, biosecurity facility, AI laboratory equipment and tools, AI business center, storage room, and feed storage.
Nazuni Farmers Association (NAZUNI FA), which is the program recipient, prepared an Inauguration and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the assistance of DA-NLP, ATI, DA-Regional Field Office 6 (DA-RFO 6), Local Government Units (LGUs) of Iloilo and Dingle. Present during the event are as follows: Dr. Ruth S. Miclat-Sonaco, Department of Agriculture-National Livestock Program (DA-NLP) Program Director and Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)-International Training Center on Pig Husbandry Center Director; Mary Ann A. Ramos, ATI Region 6's Center Director; Gilbert Banda, NAZUNI FA President; Glenn L. Mariano, DA-NLP's Regional Coordinator, representing Dir. Dennis R. Arpia, Regional Executive Director of DA-Western Visayas; Dr. Darel B. Tabuada, DVM, Iloilo's Provincial Veterinarian, also representing Governor Arthur R. Defensor, Jr. of Iloilo Province; SB Member for Agriculture Hon. Jimmy C. Quicoy, representing Mayor Rufino P. Palabrica, III of Dingle, Iloilo; Dr. Marfe J. Quinlat, Municipal Agriculturist of Dingle, Iloilo; Punong Barangay Wilbert G. Macahilo of Nazuni, Dingle; and Ronald Cahuya, Executive Assistant of the Mayor and Former SB Member for Agriculture.
Iloilo's Fourth District Congressman, Hon. Ferjenel G. Biron, graced the event with his message of support, "Whatever I can do, I can assist in the Congress. Please do not hesitate to come. You can visit me."
Ms. Ramos acknowledged the guests for gracing the event with their presence despite their busy schedules. She thanked the Barangay Officials of Nazuni for assisting the association with their electricity and water supply, precisely their needs.
Dr. Miclat-Sonaco shared that the AI sa Barangay was introduced way back 3-5 years ago, with the distribution of only two boars to the learning sites of ATI. She continued that when the African Swine Fever (ASF) hit the country, the DA Secretary approved the proposed expansion of the project. Then, the NAZUNI FA, located in Western Visayas - ASF-free by that time, became a recipient of the Swine Artificial Insemination (SWAIB) building.
Other guests are delighted with this milestone. All of them are willing to assist in formulating strategies and activities that will benefit the program and its beneficiaries. They also emphasized the essence of biosecurity, especially now that the province's hog industry is facing a challenge.
The Swine Artificial Insemination sa Barangay (SWAIB) is a project funded by the DA-NLP under the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for the Recovery and Expansion (I.N.S.P.I.R.E.) Program and implemented through 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).
