BDC to manage Isla De Guimaras Native Chicken Production and Marketing Enterprise

The lead proponent group, Buenavista Development Cooperative (BDC) with its cluster members, Concordia Poultry Raisers and Livestock Raisers Association (CPLRA) and Guimaras Livestock and Poultry Raisers Association (GLPRA) formally received the key of responsibility and certificate of turnover of the Isla de Guimaras Native Chicken Production and Marketing Enterprise on November 15, 2024 in Mabini, Buenavista, Guimaras.

Completing the implementation stage, the I-REAP subproject is handed over to the implementing Farmers and Fishers Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) to man and sustain the operations. As it adheres with the regulations of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project, the enterprise will be subjected to a 10-year monitoring and evaluation of its operation and maintenance practices. This ensures the sustainability of the PRDP-funded subprojects.

BDC Allied Services Assistant General Manager, Joe Harvey Gustilo expressed his fulfillment with the enterprise’s triumph after pursuing it from challenges.

“We are very lucky nga nakalab-ot kita sang one year and eight months. Damo na nga baliskadanay ang aton naagyan. Especially nga naigo kita sang pila ka bagyo kag dugang pa nga may mga challenges kita sa operations. Yet we survived kay gusto ini namon nga mangin pride sang guimaras.” [We are very lucky that we are able to reach one year and eight months. We have already encountered various challenges especially that we were continuously hit by a number of tropical adversities coupled with added concerns with our operations, yet we survived as we wanted this to be Guimaras’ pride.]

The cluster members from CLPRA and GLPRA shared similar bliss with the enterprise’s feat as this signifies continued operations among their satellite stations and would mean success as initiated by the BDC.

This 20-million subproject serves as an intervention to the growing demand for native chicken in the region and aims to establish native chicken hub in the island while increasing the household income of its direct beneficiaries.