Egg project boosts livelihood, food security in Bago

BACOLOD CITY — An egg-laying project is expected to benefit a farmers association and its community in Barangay Calumangan, Bago City.

Mayor Marina Mayette “Mayette” Javellana-Yao and members of the San Jose Farmers Association, led by Reynaldo Caballero, launched the egg production project at Purok San Jose on the morning of August 5.

In her message, Mayor Javellana-Yao said the project marks a concrete step toward food sustainability and livelihood opportunities for Bagonhons.

“But more than this, this program is a clear message of believing in the capacity of the people, in the strength of the community, and the goodness brought by dedication and hard work,” she said.

The San Jose Farmers Association, composed of 28 members, received PHP500,000 in seed capital from the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Negros Island Region.

The group was recently organized with the help of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) and endorsed to the DSWD through Program Convergence Budgeting (PCB) under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP).

Mayor Javellana-Yao said the poultry project represents what is possible when even the smallest initiative is supported, nurtured and sustained — it can grow into a powerful solution to hunger, poverty and uncertainty.

“Every egg that will be laid, every source of income this project creates, is not just about food on the table, but about lives built on hope,” she said.

The mayor said the project belongs to people who dream of uplifting their lives.

“This is our shared vision, our shared progress, and our shared journey toward abundance,” she added. “Let us move forward in livelihood, continue toward growth — for our beloved Bago, and for a future full of dignity, joy and purpose.”

Caballero said the association is initially raising 90 chickens for egg production and is currently producing 90 eggs per day.

They expect to receive more chickens for eight additional cages to be installed in their 200-square-meter production area, part of the association’s 1-hectare communal lot.

Caballero said they are currently producing eggs primarily for community consumption, selling them at farmgate prices.

“One of our programs in the association is community service. We really want to help the community,” he said. “This is a big help for us, the members of the association, in terms of livelihood.”

Still, Caballero emphasized that their main priority is food security.

“Instead of us members or our neighbors buying eggs at higher prices from the market — where supply is sometimes hard to find — we can now produce them ourselves through this egg-laying project,” he said in Hiligaynon.

Caballero thanked the government for the livelihood project and assured they will take care of it, work hard, and sustain it to benefit not only their members but the entire community.

DSWD-NIR Project Development Officer II Geljane Premacio, who attended the launching, said the San Jose Farmers Association is one of 33 SLP recipients in Bago City this year, with total funding of over PHP17 million.

“We still have many organized associations in the city who are about to launch their respective projects,” she said. “Like the San Jose Farmers Association, we hope for the successful implementation of these other projects.”

City Social Welfare and Development Officer Leah Pilipina Canayon pledged continued support and collaboration with the community to advance the ASENSO BAGO governance framework of Mayor Javellana-Yao.

“In unity, we will surely achieve what we dream for the people of Bago,” Canayon said, as she congratulated the San Jose Farmers Association for initiating a project beneficial to its members and the wider community.

Also present at the launching were Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office and City Cooperative Development Office Head Judee Lynn Lirazan, Social Welfare Officer II and Livelihood Focal Person Rhoda Alvarado, PCUP Area Coordinator Edmark Sabordo, Barangay Calumangan Captain Roberto Saylo, and staff from DSWD-NIR and CSWDO, among others.