LOPEZ JAENA, Misamis Occidental (PIA)—Lopez Jaena town, here envisions to become little Bukidnon to promote local farming.
In a Network Briefing News, November 23, with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Sec. Martin Andanar, Mayor Michael Gutierrez said, “Lopez Jaena is similar to Bukidnon because we have many farmers, most of them wanted to become like the successful bukidnon farmers.”
Gutierrez started a small ranch for all farmers who want to raise cows and they planted napper so it will be sustainable for the farmers.
The mayor tried to model the ones practiced in Bukidnon and had one secretariat to monitor the cows and the planting of napper.
“Here in our town, our cows are not yet upgraded. However, I myself started to invest cows from Del Monte and I started breeding them. If ever our cows have offspring, we give them to our local farmers so that they can start breeding their own cows,” Gutierrez said.
As for selling of products, the mayor said they don’t have any problems on transporting to their market, which is in Cebu City, because they have a nearby port in Plaridel.
For planting of upland crops and vegetables, the Municipal Government of Lopez Jaena has started distributing seeds to the upland barangays and provided them fertilizers from the government.
Also, all government employees are required to have a backyard garden so they can sustain and save financially during COVID-19 pandemic.
Lopez Jaena town is a 4th class municipality composed of 28 barangays with 19 upland areas. (PIA Misamis Occidental/SMRN)
