The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) and the Bureau of Corrections BuCor) have launched a “pre-release reformation" program for the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) under the Minimum-Security Compound (MinSecCom) of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Under the “Village-Scale Chicken Meat and Egg Production System Project,” the inmates are given the opportunity to manage broiler and layer chicken production.
PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora said the reformation project stemmed from the successful implementation of the Council’s native chicken production project in San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City.
He said it was the Livestock Research Division of the DOST-PCAARRD that introduced the project to the BuCor.
"Ngayong pandemic na mahirap ang pagkain, naisipan ng aming Livestock Research Division sa pamumuno ni Dr. Synan Baguio na ibahagi sa ibang piitan ang konseptong ito, pero sa pagkakataong ito ay itinuon ng proyekto sa produksyon ng commercial layer at broiler chickens. Subok na kasi ang mga commercial hybrid chickens na mabilis makapagbigay ng karne at it log, kaya siguradong makatutulong sa panahon ng pandemya (During this pandemic when the food is scarce, our Livestock Research Division led by Dr. Synan Baguio decided to share this concept with other prisons, but this time the project is focused on the production of commercial layer and broiler chickens. Commercial hybrid chickens have been proven to produce meat and eggs quickly, so they can definitely help during a pandemic),” Ebora said in a virtual presser on the “PCAARRD-BuCor Project: Providing Hope and Food Availability to PDLs” on Wednesday, Oct. 27.
The project was approved in December 2020 as one of three projects under the “Manok at Itlog para sa Pamayanan," a component of the Council’s
DOST-PCAARRD’s Good Agri-Aqua Livelihood Initiatives Towards National Goals (GALING-PCAARRD) Kontra COVID-19 Program, he noted.
The GALING-PCAARRD Kontra COVID-19 program is the Council’s response to the government-led efforts against the pandemic in accordance with the Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
Ebpra said the project showcases not only the profitability and sustainability of a village-scale broiler and layer chicken production system during the pandemic, but also serves as a pre-release reformation program for PDLs in BuCor’s MinSecCom, ensuring food availability to the inmates while generating income during and after this pandemic.
The PCAARRD said the first of three batches of 1,800 day-old chicks (DOCs) were delivered to BuCor on Aug. 12.
"In just five days from delivery, the chicks have tripled their weight from an average of 46 grams. A month later, each of these DOCs attained an average weight of 1.2 kilograms (kg), and sold as dressed chickens for P170/kg,” it said in a statement.
It cited that the gross income from the project amounted to P367,200 from the first batch of DOCs.
“Considering that two more batches of DOCs will be delivered within the next six months, it is expected that P1.1 million gross income can be generated from this broiler project, part of which can be used as capital to procure another three batches of DOCs to be raised as slaughter chickens,” the Council said.
In August, BuCor’s MinSecCom also received 384 ready-to-lay (RTL) pullets, which began laying eggs in the second week of September when they were 20 to 22 weeks of age.
“As of mid-October, 91 percent of these hens have started laying eggs and about 3,000 eggs have already been sold within the BuCor community,” the PCAARRD said.
The Council expects that 310 pieces of eggs or about 119,000 eggs will be produced within the year during the duration of the project.
The initial small-sized eggs are being sold at P100 per tray.
"As the size improves, they can be sold at P6 per piece to fetch as much as P714,000 within the project duration. Apart from the eggs, the 384 hens can be sold as culls at P80/hd to give an additional income of P30,720 after a year,” the PCAARRD said.