The challenges brought about by the pandemic have prompted the Villar SIPAG Foundation to use social media platforms to connect and reach out to people in order to disseminate information and educate them on native animal production.
The foundation, of which Sen. Cynthia Villar serves as director, partnered with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the National Swine Poultry Research and Development Center (NSPRDC) in the conduct of three-day webinars entitled “Katutubong Hayop, Pag-asa natin sa Pagbangon ngayong Pandemya.”
Despite the many barriers Filipinos face due to the pandemic, Villar underscored the need for people to be creative in finding means to produce their own food.
Aside from urban gardening, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture encouraged the production of native animals like native pig and chicken, among others.
Villar said native animal production can provide livelihood to Filipinos while contributing to food sufficiency and stability.
“It is important to develop the industry of native animals to improve the income of local farmers at animal breeders and alleviate their living conditions. This also reflects our culture and Filipino foods,” she said.
At the same time, the senator said it can help support economic recovery.
Angelo Valencia, owner of Tibby’s farm in Pampanga, said the future of the Philippines is in the countryside, not in the cities.
“If the Philippines want to really make it to the first world, we have to empower agriculture, agro-culture and agroforestry,” Valencia said.
Dr. Rene Santiago of the Philippine Native Animal Production said native animals are important components of most agricultural production systems in the rural areas in Asia.