Business: Guv Urges Negrenses to Breed Sheep Now

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. has encouraged Negrenses to breed sheep, as he envisions the province to be the “Sheep Capital of the Philippines.”

“We encourage people who are willing to engage in sheep breeding,” the governor said, when asked of the updates of the public hearing on sheep yesterday.

The Livestock Marketing and Dispersal Committee of the Provincial Capitol had conducted a public hearing yesterday on the procedures of selling the sheep and their proposed prices.

Around 5,800 heads of sheep arrived in the province early this month from Australia, which were purchased by the Provincial Capitol for about P80 million.

The Committee on Agriculture of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is holding a series of public hearings, in line with the proposed ordinance that will fix the price of the sheep.

The SP passed the ordinance on first reading during its regular session last week, Provincial Administrator Enrique Pinongan said.

The sheep will be sold by the Provincial Capitol to private entities and local government units.

He stressed that the Provincial Capitol cannot sell the imported sheep without an ordinance approving its sale.

Pinongan said private buyers are required to pay in cash if they want to purchase the sheep while local government units can acquire them through installment basis.

Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the female sheep is priced at P16,000 and the male at P20,000, though these are still subject to the approval of the SP.

The price is inclusive of the incidental costs like the transportation, loading and unloading and quarantine of the sheep.

The Livestock Marketing and Dispersal Committee is chaired by the governor and members are Pinongan, Provincial Accountany Lucille Pines, assistant Provincial Legal Officer Mary Ann Lamis, Board Member Miller Serondo, SP chairman on Committee of Agriculture, and Decena.

Decena said the sheep will be ready for dispersal on Feb. 26 and the official prices will be announced after the third reading of the ordinance on the establishment of the Negros First Ranch and the sale of farm produce.

The sheep are currently under quarantine at the Negros First Ranch in Barangay Sta. Rosa Murcia.*(DBDangcalan)