A Livelihood Training on organic pig, poultry and livestock production was held last week in the City Veterinary Office. In partnership with Unifeeds, a company engaged in manufacturing organically and naturally enriched hog and poultry feeds, taught the participants various methods and techniques on how to increase their productivity. Resource speakers Dr. Eduardo Arraiza Jr., Roden Paranaque and Lou Reiz Mae Geba, shared their insights on the importance of going organic. The discussion highlighted the use of organic feeds as against the chemically-induced commercial products available in the market. The speaker stressed the importance of using naturally-grown products because of its health benefits.

City Mayor John Geesnell “BABA” Yap was delighted to see the different participants coming from the city’s 15 barangays. In his message, he emphasized that livelihood trainings such as these are important for these have the capacity to uplift their lives. Being a breeder himself, he is also active in finding ways to increase productivity and effectively manage his operations. Further, the City Mayor pledged support and reported that the City Government is continuously intensifying its campaign in strengthening small and medium enterprises in the City.

In fact last year, Mayor Yap received Php6.4 million from the Department of Labor and Employment for TINOLA (Tagbilaran Integrated Organic Livestock and Agriculture), one of the approved Grassroots Participatory Budgeting projects of the City Government thru the Department of Interior and Local Government. TINOLA is expected to provide alternative source of income to urban poor and informal settlers of Tagbilaran City through organic hog farming. The initiative also targets to popularize organic animal farming technologies at the household level and help institutionalize the organic animal farming program of the City Government. It also aims to offer the general public with market access to safe and healthy meat products.