Another multimillion biosecure swine facility to rise in Isabela town
ECHAGUE, Isabela: The construction of another P5 million worth biosecure facility in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) is underway as part of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2’s (DA-RFO2) community-based swine production and repopulation efforts.
Dr. Ferdinand Cortez of the DARFO2 Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section said the regional field office already broke ground for the biosecure swine facility in Purok 1, Aromin in Echague, Isabela earlier this month.
This town’s local government and the officers, and members of Blue Circle Grains Trading Agriculture Cooperative were also at the groundbreaking for this 13th facility to be built in the province and the 23rd in the region.
Dr. Bryan Sibayan, DA-RFO 2 livestock coordinator, noted that subject to prior consultation with concerned municipal local governments, they earlier reviewed the design of the biosecure facility in project implementation.
He said the biosecure complex is inclusive of the perimeter fence, climate-controlled animal house, waste management, basic farm equipment, office, shower area, feeds and biologics support, and piglets, and it is situated in a 2,000 square meters area owned by the cooperative.
“We have nine more facilities to be constructed across Region 2 and in addition to this, we have requested funding for eight more. There will be 42 biosecure swine facilities all over Cagayan Valley once the eight will be approved,” Sibayan added.
Cagayan Valley comprises the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and the island province of Batanes.
Cortez said the Regional
Agricultural Engineering Division earlier oriented eligible farmers and cooperatives associations on the modular design for the facilities to ensure the proper implementation of the project.
DA-RFO2 Executive Director Narciso Edillo said the community-based swine production and repopulation
efforts via farm clustering is under the DA’s Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion or Inspire program.
Edillo added that the construction of the facilities is aimed at helping the swine industry recover from the African swine fever outbreak.