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Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON, led by Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa, inks a memorandum of understanding together with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Batangas Group and the Unified Batangas Hog Raisers’ Association (UNIBAT) to strengthen the hog raising industry in Batangas on August 28, 2020 at the Batangas Egg Producers’ Cooperative office in San Jose.

This momentous signing was witnessed by Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar, 4th District Representative of Batangas Congresswoman Lianda Bolilia, local government officials of San Jose, and representatives from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) in Batangas. 

Through this partnership, they will look deeper into the region’s hog industry value chain by conducting a feasibility study to improve the industry; its production technology; farmers’ skills and competencies; and a competitive and sustainable value chain for livestock products including supply inputs, production, processing of derivative products, marketing, distribution, and sales.

Together, they will examine and interpret the value chain of the Batangas swine industry and identify gaps and problems, and then propose solutions and alternatives at the end of the study.

DA CALABARZON, with the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council, will serve as one of the lead proponents of the said study, and will be providing comprehensive and relevant regional industry-specific information and improvements as may be needed in the study. 

On the other hand, PCCI Batangas will take the lead in collecting information from all relevant stakeholders, government agencies, and other interested parties to allow accurate profiling of the value chain of Batangas livestock producers across CALABARZON and National Capital Region as one of the proponents of the study. This includes data regarding the import and export segments and major market channels.

Simultaneously, UNIBAT will be providing the comprehensive and reliable information to other lead proponents as subject-matter experts, and other industry-specific information and changes necessary to be included in the study.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Batangas through its OPV and OPA will be providing swine industry-related information, manpower support, protocols, and local ordinances.

CALABARZON is known for being one of the top five hog raisers in the Philippines. And with this feasibility study, Batangas will most likely generate a much stronger and significantly improved swine industry, which can later on be immensely beneficial to CALABARZON’s hog production and supply that will eventually put the region to the number one spot. • (MAP, DA-RAFIS)