BACOLOD CITY 鈥� Negros Occidental is not producing enough balut or fertilized egg embryo that is boiled or steamed.
According to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, the demand for balut in the province is one million eggs per month.
But at present, Negros Occidental is producing only about 250,000 to 300,000 eggs per month.
Lacson, in an interview on Feb. 14, said the ban on the importation of eggs from Luzon because of the bird flu scare has contributed to the drop in supply.
The governor distributed P2 million worth of support packages for balut production to former rebel groups and farmers鈥� associations in Negros Occidental on Friday.
He expressed hopes that by initially supplying them with incubators, breeder ducks, and duck feeds, they would be able to fill the gap of about 700,000 to 750,000 eggs a month.
The Itik Pinas Raising for Balut and Salted Egg Project, through the Provincial Veterinary Office, aims to address the gap in the supply of balut in the province, provide livelihood opportunities to farmers and former rebels, and support the province鈥檚 food sufficiency initiatives.
The project recipients are the Kapatiran San Carlos City Chapter, Kapatiran Para Sa Progresong Panlipunan Cadiz City Chapter, Kapatiran Locotan Chapter in Kabankalan City, and Kapatiran Talacdan Chapter in Cauayan.
Kapatiran is the new name of the group of the former rebel members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido Ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade Tabara-Paduano Group, which has entered into a peace agreement with the government.
The other recipients are the Madaha Handweavers Association and Cunalom, Maliko-liko, Lunou Farmers Association in Himamaylan City; Camingawan Diversified Workers Association in Kabankalan City; Mambaroto Organic Farmers Association in Sipalay City; Inayawan Itik Farm Association in Cauayan; and Canlubang Farmers Cluster Association in Ilog.
Lacson, also turned over financial assistance to peace and development community volunteers from the Sentrong Alyansa ng Mamamayan Para sa Bayan (Sambayanan) Negros, composed of former rebels.
Each beneficiary group was allocated 100 heads of breeder ducks, an incubator, and 12 bags of duck feeds.
鈥淚tik Pinas鈥� is a superior breeder duck native to the Philippines with three hybrids: Itim, Khaki, and Kayumanggi (black, khaki, and brown).
Kayumanggi is used for making balut.