The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Davao Region, through its Food Production and Livelihood (FPL) Unit, successfully conducted the Training on Poultry and Livestock Production and Management with Emphasis on Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) from April 13 to 17, 2026.
The five-day training gathered thirty-five (35) participants composed of representatives from Provincial and Local Government Units and SAAD Area Coordinators across the region. The training aimed to strengthen the technical competencies of partner implementers in poultry and livestock production to further improve the delivery of interventions to farmer-beneficiaries.
During the opening program, Aniel Balorio, FPL Unit Lead, emphasized the importance of strengthening the expertise of municipal partners who play a crucial role in implementing the program on the ground.
“Giimbithan nato ang mga kaubanan gikan sa mga munisipyo na present si SAAD, para mas ma enhance pa ang ilang expertise hilabi na nga sila ang atong mga partner sa implementation inig abot sa ground,” Balorio said.
(We invited our partners from the municipalities where SAAD is present to further enhance their expertise, especially since they are our partners in implementing the program on the ground.)
Meanwhile, Lorenzo Bermillo, SAAD Assistant Focal Person, expressed his gratitude to the municipal partners for their continued support and collaboration with the program.
“Most of our interventions under the program involve livestock, which is why this training is very important not only for the participants but also for our beneficiaries who receive these interventions. And of course, we are very thankful to our partner LGUs who continue to support our program,” Bermillo shared.
The training equipped participants with essential knowledge and practical skills in animal health, biosecurity, nutrition, breeding, and production management to strengthen sustainable poultry and livestock farming practices in the region.
Lectures and discussions were facilitated by Dr. Mark Kenneth E. Dino, Veterinarian II of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office XI, and Robert D. Cardinal Sr. from the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO) of Davao del Norte.
To complement the classroom discussions, participants also engaged in a farm site visit and actual practicum at the Davao Agricultural Research Central Experiment Station (DARCES), where they applied their learnings in a real-world agricultural setting.
Through this initiative, the Program continues to empower partner implementers and strengthen livestock and poultry production systems for the benefit of farming communities across the region.###
