Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the DA is pursuing the initiative in partnership with the Japanese government and host municipalities and cities, during the inauguration of a P40-million upgraded livestock ‘oksyon’ market (LOM) in Lemery, Batangas, on 13 July.

The upgrading of the Lemery LOM was jointly funded by the Japanese government which provided P34 M under the 2KR grant, the DA through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) sharing P3 million, and the host municipal government counterparting P3.5 million.

Also present during inauguration were Japanese Embassy First Secretary of Agriculture Ryutaro Aoki, Lemery Mayor Charisma Alilio, Dr. Rubina Cresencio of the DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry, and DA region 4A director Vilma Dimaculangan.

Secretary Alcala commended the Japanese government, as well as Lemery local government officials, for upgrading the facilities and adopting an automated transaction system at the Lemery LOM, which is considered the biggest in the country. Thousands of head cattle, carabaos, hogs, goats, chicken are sold twice a week (every Tuesday and Saturday) at Lemery LOM.

When fully operational, Secretary Alcala said livestock raisers are expected to earn more income by up to 25 per cent with the transparent and automated livestock trading system. Also, more jobs will be generated.

He said the Lemery LOM will also serve as a model of other livestock auction markets in the country. He enjoined other livestock raisers and local government officials to visit Lemery to appreciate the new and modern facilities like animal sheds, weighing scale house, and loading and unloading ramps, and observe the automated transaction and trading system.

For his part, Japanese embassy first Secretary Aoki said the auction market will serve as “The public face of the livestock industry in Lemery, and will be the center for a healthy and fair livestock trading. The project serves as a testimony of the strong RP-Japan friendship and our government’s recognition of the plight of livestock farmers. We hope to improve their incomes through this project.”

Secretary Alcala urged Mayor Alilio to further improve the trading system and provide efficient services, and to fully maximize its capacity.

He also instructed DA region 4A director Dimaculangan to validate and assess the viability of constructing a farm-to-market road that will connect the Lemery LOM to the main highway, and thus encourage more livestock raisers and traders from other parts of Batangas, and Luzon provinces to sell and trade their livestock and poultry animals.