Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos recognized the effort of the Barangay Livestock Aides (BALA) in ensuring food security in the province.
Thus, during the last regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), on June 29, 2021, the august body approved a resolution regarding the budget for the honoraria of the BALA.
One of the priority undertakings of the Provincial Government of Bohol under the leadership of Gov. Arthur Yap and Relampagos is food security. Several programs and projects were formed in order to give the Boholanos a stable, affordable and safe supply of food. One program supporting this initiative is making sure that the livestock industries are fully protected, supported and monitored.
Even before the current administration, the hog and poultry industries in the province were already proactively protected through the creation of the BALA.
The BALA provide the support core of the livestock industry, conceptualized in the year 1996 during the leadership of then Gov: Relampagos and was implemented in the year 1997.
It is only in 2020, that the provincial government was able to set aside funds to provide honoraria to the BALA.
The SP adopted a resolution approving the claims of 39 BALA amounting to P93,600.
The horomaria were supposed to be granted to the said volunteers during the previous distribution activity, but were unable to claim due to their failure to comply the necessary requirements, reports bare.
Reports say that in 2020, the provincial government has distributed a total of P3.1 million for the honoraria of 1,309 BALA.
Meanwhile, Relampagos fully appreciated the role of the BALA. He said that he wants to provide recognition to the effort of the BALA in ensuring food security in the province.
“These volunteers have been giving their services for two decades free of charge and only under this present administration that we were able to recognize them by way of giving them a very modest honorarium,” Relampagos said in a statement.