By Glazyl Masculino
BACOLOD CITY - The provincial government of Negros Occidental has inaugurated the Swine Artificial Insemination (AI) and Laboratory Center at the slaughterhouse compound in Cadiz City.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (right) and Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr. (2nd from left) during the recent inauguration of the P1.045-M AI swine and laboratory center in Brgy. Tinampa-an, Cadiz City. (Photo courtesy of the provincial government of Negros Occidental/MANILA BULLETIN)
The inauguration rites were led by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr., and Dr. Renante Decena, head of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), in the presence of Negros Occidental second district Board Member Samson Mirhan and city veterinarian Dr. Josue Rabang, and paravets and hog raisers associations coming from the cities of Sagay and Cadiz and the municipality of Manapla.
The center, which costs P1,045,000, is equipped with a trinocular microscope, and a sterilizing and drier cabinet.
Decena said the center will further improve the livestock industry in Negros Occidental, one of the provinces in the country with the most number of swine backyard producers.
The Univet Nutrition and Animal Healthcare Company (UNAHCO) gave 10 heads of boar for use of the center and AI paraphernalia worth P1 million.
UNAHCO President and COO Ricardo Alba said he was impressed with the provincial government-initiated projects which intend to help the paravets and hog raisers of the province.
Alba pledged P300,000 worth of veterinary medicine to the province and P100,000 worth of veterinary medicine to Cadiz, saying “giving back to the community is part of their company’s social responsibility.”
The paravets and hog raisers also received kabir chicks and forage planting materials from the PVO.
Lacson said the facility will also be an educational center particularly for veterinary students who want to learn more about artificial insemination.
Escalante said more investors are interested in the poultry and livestock production of the province.
The city government of Cadiz will maintain and operate the center.
Similar AI centers will be turned over to Himamaylan City, and the towns of E.B. Magalona and Candoni.