The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has disclosed that its funded project seeking to set up state-of-the-art duck industry in the second district of Albay is expected to be completed soon.

DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said DOST V through the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) has extended assistance to the CAMBI Integrated Farm in Albay “to establish a modern, science-based duck egg production and processing system, independent of the power supply offered by the national power grid.”

“The project is now nearing completion,” he said in a report.

He said one of the major components of the project is the F-grid photovoltaic-powered incubators and hatchers that will convert raw duck eggs into either balut or chicks.

Another component is specialized design of duck-egg steaming and boiling facilities for its it log na maalat or salted egg products, he said.

The third component is a 20-cubic meter biogas digester designed for the confined Itik-Pinas (IP) poultry layers, de la Peña said.

A genetically superior breeder duck, IP was a product of continuous selection and breeding of the tradional Pateros duck. It was developed in a project conducted by the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) and the National Swine and Poultry Research and Development Center of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI-NSPRDC).

“The biogas produced will provide fuel for the continuous operation of the it log na maalat-making operations and other power-generating requirements of the farm,” de la Peña said.

“The facility is expected to expand the duck industry not only in the province of Albay but in the rest of the Bicol region by coming up with quality ready-to-lay (RTL) Itik-Pinas hens and contribute to providing additional livelihood to the farmers.”

He said the project is likely to have a payback period of less than two years.