The Negros Occidental provincial government has embarked on a month-long veterinary relief and rehabilitation mission in disaster-hit areas in a bid to recover the PHP742-million loss brought by Typhoon Odette to the local animal industry.

“The recent devastation resulted in severe damage to the livestock and poultry industry, affecting both the backyard and commercial sectors,” the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) headed by Dr. Renante Decena, said in a statement on Thursday.

The mission, which kicked off in Barangays Orong and Camingawan, Kabankalan City on Wednesday, aims to help affected animals recover and return to their optimum and production performance to address the possible post-typhoon shortage of livestock and poultry products.

On Friday, the PVO team will proceed to Barangays Vista Alegre and Delisioso in Ilog town.

In February, they will also visit the cities of Sipalay and Himamaylan as well as the municipalities of Ilog, Hinobaan, Cauayan, Candoni, Binalbagan, Isabela, Hinigaran, Moises Padilla and La Castellana.

Services rendered include consultation, treatment, deworming, provision of feeds, veterinary drugs and vitamin supplements, and laboratory services to animals.

The losses incurred by the animal industry provincewide include dead animals, damaged feeds and other farm supplies, structural damages to animal housing, and other farm structures.

The PVO has partnered with the Iloilo-Bacolod Association of Veterinary Sales Representatives, Negros Association of Animal Feed and Drug Supplies and Philippine Veterinary Medical Association Western Visayas-B Chapter in the conduct of the veterinary relief and rehabilitation mission. (PNA)