Amidst the threat of climate change, there is no other way to withstand but to go back to basics.

This is how the livestock industry advocates perceived to sustain the sector.

Reverend Father Rolie Ritchie Gomez, Director of Missionaries of Sacred Heart (MSC)- Center for the Poor said that going back to traditional knowledge is the best way to be resilient in the current times.

“In times of calamity, who will survive, it is the native,” he stressed.

Father Gomez coined the current situation as climate emergency that needs an immediate response of every Filipino to take the stand to save the planet earth, and at the same time be resilient.

“As you can see, when a disease will sweep an area, commercial animals will be easily wiped out, but our native survives against all odds,” Father Gomez said.

The advocacy of the Roman Catholic priest is in line with the advocacy campaign of the Department of Agriculture through the Livestock Section and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) dubbed as Back to Basics promoting native domesticated animals such as chicken, pig, goat, and ducks called Itik Pinas.

Dr. Rene Santiago, Center Director of the National Swine and Poultry Research and Development Center of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) in Quezon Province said that raising native farm animals has a great advantage over hybrid.

“Native animals has its natural ability to be climate-resilient. If its raining native chicken knows how to seek shelter but the hybrid line won’t, thereby they have a high risk of diseases. Native animals don’t demand expensive feeds, but command a higher price than the commercial ones,” he explained.

In the recent leg of the advocacy campaign in Surigao City on August 16, 2019, around 800 livestock industry players had participated and expressed eagerness to support the program.

“Raising native chicken and hogs is a great help for an additional family’s income, so I appreciate the program of DA promoting native animals,” said Jeanette Raro of Placer, Surigao del Norte, a returning Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) from New Zealand.

Edelmira Luminarias, DA Caraga Livestock focal person said that native animals has been promoted by the government to help the farmers especially backyard raisers for an additional income.

“Those who are interested to raise native animals are encouraged to send to us through their Municipal Agriculture or Veterinary Office a letter of request to be included in the program, whether they need the animal itself or technical trainings,” she advice.

DA Caraga through its Research Station in Tagbina and Talacogon were raising native chicken and pigs for dispersal to farmers and established multiplier farms in coordination with local government units.

Promotion of native animals has been embodied under the Philippine Native Animal Development (PNAD) Program through formulating, promoting and implementing policies and programs for the development, conservation, production and marketing of native animals. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)