THE Department of Agriculture in Central Luzon (DA-3) and the provincial government of Bulacan has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of an animal quarantine facility in the province.
The MOA was signed on Friday by Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando, DA-3 Regional Livestock Program coordinator Gil David, Memito Luyun of the Agricultural Program Coordinating Office and Provincial Veterinary Office head Voltaire Basinang.
Before the MOA signing ceremony, 75 livestock farmers who graduated under the Farmers’ Field School-Goat Entrepreneurship Management (FFS-GEM) were awarded their certificates of completion.
The animal quarantine facility will be funded by the DA for P10 million.
Fernando said the facility will be built at Damascus Compound, Barangay Pulong Sampalok, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan with a capacity of 200 animals.
“This facility is a big help not only for our livestock farmers, it will also help our livestock stay healthy and prevent diseases, besides helping with its production,” said Fernando.
Basinang, meanwhile, said imported animals will be brought directly to the quarantine facility to prevent the spread of animal diseases and protect humans from dangerous zoonotic outbreaks.
Basinag said that only the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga and Aurora have animal quarantine facilities in Central Luzon.
Meanwhile, farm animals such as goats, chickens and cattle were also distributed to the farmers during the ceremony.
Fernando said the provincial government has already distributed more than 700 goats and cows to farmers since the program began in 2010.
DA-Region 3 said only the provinces of Bulacan and Tarlac have been conducting the animal distribution program in Region 3.