Gov Emano launches ‘Itikan sa Kalamboan’

MISAMIS Oriental Gov. Bambi Emano launches a new livelihood project intended to augment the earning capacity of families in the province.

Called “Itikan Sa Kalamboan” the project aims to work with peoples’ organizations and cooperatives in the province by initially providing these groups with 100 heads of ducks, 15 bags of feeds and four (4) bahgs of corn seeds.

“Actually, we intend to address three (3) development issues; 1) poverty, 2)unemployment and, 3) malnutrition,” Gov. Emano said.

More specifically, the “Itikan sa Kalambuan” aims to reduce poverty by eight (8) percent and family’s income by 20 percent.

“If everything goes right, some 4,465 families will have a viable livelihood in duck-egg ‘balut’ production  after three (3) years,” Gov. Emano added.

Those participating in this project are assured of continuous technical support, resource mobilization, and development of markets for duck eggs.

The Governor laments that for local consumption of ‘balut” alone, some 80 percent of this product comes all the way from Luzon.

“Our province has better in everything that takes a feasible ‘itikan’ than what they have elsewhere,” Gov. Emano said.

Going into economics of duck production, he said this fowl lays an egg daily.

But even if just 80 of the 100 ducks lay an egg, this could mean some 2,400 eggs a month or 28,800 per year.

“Twenty eight thousand and eight hundred ‘balut’ a year could mean a potential earning that makes any family happy!” the Governor said.

(A 16-day balut retails at P15 each in the local market.)

An order for some 7,830 heads of ducks are due to arrive next month.

“As an agriculturist myself, I am excited on the project,” the Governor added.

Initially, some 12 groups have undergone intensive hands-on training to better ensure success of the project.

These are tjhe San Isisdro Farmers Association and Solana Farmers Association, both of Jasaan town; ROCAMCO Bayanihan Center, Tagoloan Green Farmers Association and Rosario CARP Multi Purpose Cooperative all of Tagoloan town; Tulayas Farmers Association of Claveria town; Kimaya Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Villanueva town; Dulong 4Ps Sea Kalayaan Association, Money Makers 4P, Lubluban 4Ks, Tuburan 4Ps, Gimaylan 4Ps, all of Libertad town. (PIO/MisOr)