Negros Occidental is not producing enough balut (fertilized duck eggs) to meet the local demand, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Friday, Feb. 14.
The demand for balut in Negros Occidental is 1 million eggs per month and the province is producing only about 250,000 to 300,000, he said
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The ban on the importation of eggs from Luzon because of the bird flu scare has contributed to the drop in supply, he said.
Lacson distributed P2 million worth of support packages for balut production to ten former rebel groups and farmers’ associations in Negros Occidental on Friday.
He is hoping that by initially supplying them with incubators, breeder ducks and duck feeds they will be able to fill the gap of about 700,000 to 750,000 eggs a month, Lacson said.
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’s food sufficiency initiatives, he said.
Distributed on Friday were 1,000 breeder ducks, ten incubators with a 250-egg capacity, and 127 bags of duck feed.
Lacson, also turned over P342,000 in financial assistance to peace and development community volunteers from the Sentrong Alyansa ng Mamamayan Para sa Bayan (Sambayanan) Negros, composed of former rebels.*