The team from ATI-RTC-CAR, headed by Center Director Charlie Sagudan and Engr. Wendel Baaten together with the staff from MLGU Luna Engineering Office headed by Engr. Elvis Gonayon and his team monitored the 30 Sow-Level Swine Multiplier and TechnoDemo Farm Infrastructure Project located at Luna, Apayao on June 27, 2024. The said project is funded under the DA-NLP INSPIRE Program.
According to Engr. Baaten, ATI-RTC-CAR’s Project Engineer, the Swine multiplier facility is now physically completed with the installation of the cooling system and its accessories. Final testing of the system was conducted and is working as planned.
The installed swine pens and its accessories were checked and tested, especially the pressure of the water system and drinkers, to ensure a smooth supply of drinking water to the pig stocks.
Rectification of minor damages were advised to the contractor's personnel and complete housekeeping of the project site in preparation for the turnover.
The infrastructure project was implemented by ATI-RTC-CAR in partnership with the MLGU of Luna, Apayao with various infrastructure structures funded under the MLGU Luna as counterpart for the project.
The infrastructure project is located at the MLGU-owned lot at Barangay Turod, Luna, Apayao. The expected date of inauguration and turnover of the facility to MLGU Luna is expected to be July 18-19, 2024 coinciding with the awarding ceremony of farmers and fisherfolks to the farmers of the Cordillera Administrative Region. No less than President BBM is expected to be the guest of honor at the said event.
The project aimed to support the provision of quality and superior male genetic materials and address the gap in the availability of male genetics due to the restriction of animal movement imposed to counter the spread of the African Swine Fever (ASF).
SWAIB is one of the Government programs to support the local swine industry’s recovery from ASF and to further its overall development. It is part of the Department of Agriculture’s Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) Program. Specifically, SWAIB is designed to complement INSPIRE’s Component 2 which is the establishment of swine breeder multiplier farms towards building, restoring, and recovering the breeder base to support the gradual restocking and repopulation of the swine industry. The Department of Agriculture’s National Livestock Program (NLP) leads the INSPIRE’s overall implementation in the country while the ATI, and the DA Regional Field Offices in partnership with concerned stakeholders such as Local Government Units, execute the program at the field level.// With reports from Engr. Wendell Baaten, Project Engineer.
