BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga distributed cattle, feeds and lot modules worth P1.5 million under the Livestock-based Livelihood and Enterprise Development (LLED) Program on December 6, 2022 at Barangay Hawilian, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. 

The P1.5M worth  of lot module consists of housing, stocks, feeds, drugs, and biologics were turned over by Regional Technical Director Rebecca R. Atega, together with Regional Livestock Program Coordinator Jekem Sanchez to Local Chief Executive Deo Manpatilan, Jr., and OIC-Municipal Agriculturist Jovie Ego-ugan of the Local Government Unit of Esperanza. 

The LGU's counterpart is in terms of lot donation and establishment of forage and pasture grasses. 

Being the first recipient of the program, the Local Government Unit of Esperanza chose the Esperanza Livestock and Poultry Raisers Association (ELPRA) chaired by Fernando Lorsan to manage the LLED project. The association planned to use the 10 heifers and one bull for fattening.

“A few years from now, this will bring additional income to the association so as promised, we will develop this enterprise and make use of its benefits,” Lorsan said.

RTD Atega also encouraged the group to create a strategy that will serve as a guide for the association to improve the enterprise.

“Create a strategy. Make use of every member’s ability to have the responsibility for developing this cattle enterprise. And the most important thing, make a recording of all of your transactions,” RTD Atega said.

Mayor Manpatilan Jr. also added that transparency in all of the association’s transactions is the key factor in achieving a successful organization. (Kent Warren Fugoso, Information Officer I, DA-RAFIS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)