CEBU CITY -- At least 10 individuals, including three drug reformists, in Malabuyoc town, Cebu became the initial beneficiaries of a livelihood program that the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO 7) and a Cebu-based pork producer company initiated.

Through the ‘Baktinabangay’ project, beneficiaries received free piglets that will help jump start their hog growing venture.

Baktinabangay is a concoction of ‘baktin (piglet)” and ‘tinabangay (helping each other).’

The PRO-7 has partnered with Virginia Farms Inc. as part of its support to the nationwide implementation of the Buhay Ingatan, Drogaý Ayawan (BIDA) program of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Under the project, beneficiaries will be given piglets to raise with full support including feed supplies, medicines and technical assistance to ensure the hogs grow healthy until they are ready for harvest.

Virginia Farms will then buy the hogs from the beneficiaries at a guaranteed price per kilo (live weight), the same scheme that they have been offering to hog farmers who are exclusively using their feed brand Virginia Feeds.

The turnover of piglets was held on Monday, Dec. 19, at the covered court of Malabuyoc town, Cebu.

Virginia Farms President Rolando E. Tambago said the company is honored to partner with the PRO-7 in the project that will not only benefit the drug reformist but also the consumers.

“As we all know, Cebu is among the few provinces in the country that remains free from African Swine Fever. We have a huge gap to fill in terms of pork supply and with this program, we hope to increase supply of locally produced pork and be able to augment supply gaps in Luzon and other areas in the country that are already experiencing high retail cost of pork due to limited supply,” he said.

Tambago added that hog farming is a very viable and promising source of income especially if a hog grower adopts the right management which includes best genetics, disease management and nutrition.

Virginia Farms have been into hog farming for 54 years now. Throughout those years, the company has established best practices in hog farming, which they have been sharing to other hog growers through their Virginia Farmers Solution team.

Lt. Arja Grondiano, chief of the Malabuyoc Police Stattion, said more drug reformists will benefit from the project in the future.

Grondiano said that since 2016, they have already recorded 319 drug surrenderers in the town.

Also present during the launching of the project were Malabuyoc Mayor Erlinda Piedad and Col. Antonietto Cañete, chief of the Regional Community Affairs and Development Division of PRO-7.