In
the province of Bohol, livestock raising was recognized
as a potential source of livelihood. But its potential had
not been realized because of inadequate support mechanisms.
The Provincial Government of Bohol then took the initiative
of establishing the Barangay Livestock Aide (BALA) Program
in June 1997 under the office of the Provincial Veterinarian.
The
program assigned a livestock aide in every barangay. Livestock
aides are designated resource persons, trained to provide
assistance to barangay residents on any issue involving
livestock animals. They are tasked with the following responsibilities;
1) to establish actual disease occurrence in the area, 2)
to develop a realistic barangay livestock profile, 3) to
design a workable animal health program involving vaccination
and deworming, d) to treat and/or administer drugs to livestock
animals under the supervision of the municipal livestock
technician or licensed veterinarians.
There
are now 517 new livestock aides, who serve 436 or 39% of
the barangays in the province. The communication mapping
that resulted from this program played a key role in the
control of Foot and Mouth Disease and rabies in the province.
Previously skeptic barangay residents are now eager to raise
their own backyard piggery and poultry farms as they are
certain that a “livestock doctor” is available
for assistance. Since the implementation of this program,
there has been a marked increase in the number of households
engaged in livestock rearing. Indeed the meat being produced
by Tagbilaran not only fills the local market but flows
into the markets of neighboring provinces as well.
