BBB piglet dispersal project launched
BACOLOD CITY — The 115 barangays in the Third District of Negros Occidental can be benefited by piglet dispersal project of the Betty Bantug Benitez (BBB) Foundation.
Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, President of the foundation, said they started the project few weeks ago in Murcia after the signing of the memorandum of agreement with 23 barangays.
The project aimed to provide opportunities for income generation and strengthen community spirit with values of cooperation and teamwork.
“The implementation of this project is supported by the Provincial Veterinary Office headed by Dr. Renante Decena which provided technical assistance to the beneficiaries,” Benitez said.
As part of the scheme, one piglet will be given to each of the Third District’s 115 barangays and the first beneficiary is tasked to take care for the piglet and is responsible for returning two piglets that will be distributed again to the next beneficiary in the barangay.
The livelihood chain will be closely monitored by the PVO, the Foundation and the barangay officials as well.
On the other hand, artisans and craftsmen in Barangay San Fernando, Talisay headed by Kagawad Norman Hinlo who have grouped together to develop products fashioned from bamboo, received orders for their bamboo writing pens and are set to deliver this month their first order to Kultura Filipino.
Kultura Filipino is a chain of specialty store in the country’s major malls that showcases the best of Filipino local and native products.
BBB with the help of the Association of Negros Producers have assisted an initial group of producers in each of the Third District’s towns and cities to develop an indigenous product tapping local skills.
Victorias has artists crafting home decors from carabao horn and other local materials. EB Magalona has developed products from macramé from Barangay Alicante, while Silay has intricate embroidery in Barangay Balaring.
“These are only part of the Foundation’s thrust of reaching out to as many grassroots communities and families to bring a package of integrated assistance as its vision is to help build self-sufficient communities and build capabilities through education, health, livelihood and values formation”, Benitez added.
The young businessman also brought to his District last Saturday, Retired General Edgar Aglipay of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) to conduct symposium on local government officials regarding the possibility of making the district a foreign retirees’ hub.
Benitez said there are a lot of things to be done first in order to satisfy and attract the foreign retirees to stay in the country especially in the province.
“But at least we started the plan by giving ideas to LGUs on how this kind of opportunity benefited the locality which would eventually lead additional income and employment,” he stressed.
He has foreseen that the Third District has great potential to be the next foreign retiree’s village since they are near to Bacolod City, seaports and airports.
