The proposed expansion of the livestock auction market in the municipality of La Libertad in Negros Oriental is being validated by the Department of Agriculture.
La Libertad Mayor Manuel Iway Jr. said expanding their auction market will provide convenience both to the farmers and animals, a government press release said.
Currently, the auction market has limited space for the number of animals brought in, particularly hogs, which would reach 2,000 heads a week.
“Starting last year, we can no longer control the deliveries of animals especially that our farmers are producing quality hogs,” Iway said.
The mayor explained that the trend of deliveries is an indication that there is a need for a better LAM.
Engineer Kenneth Sanchez of the DA engineering team, upon his validation of the site, said the proposed expansion is feasible for a project grant.
The auction market also serves as the holding area for unsold animals.
Lenon Simillano, a livestock handler, said that in a week, he usually delivers 25 to 30 heads of hogs in the market.
Simillano said that if the animals are not sold, he will leave them in the auction market, paying P5 per animal per day for the use of the pigpen and water.
“It would be better if the holding pens have roofs to protect them from direct sunlight that causes stress. Whenever there’s already a buyer, the live weight decreases,” he said.
Hog trader Matilde Ponce of Tess Lechon in Cebu City usually buys hogs in La Libertad, and said she is hopeful that the proposed facility expansion will materialize.
“Manghinaut ko nga matinuod kini nga facility. Mas maayo nga naay saktong timbangan sa hayopan, aron wala nay hangyoay, dili na namo matamatahon ang gidak-on ug masakto na jud ang presyo sa baboy (I look forward that the requested facility will materialize. It would be much better if there’s a weighing scale for live animals so that there’ll be no more weight guessing, and so that the price is right),” Ponce said.*
