“Philippine ego”

By Johanne Margarette R. Macob

LAST WEEK, the provincial government in partnership with the Philippine Carabao Center held a press conference to create awareness towards diminishing population of carabaos in the province, as well as in the national scene.

In the province alone, records of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) show that the number of carabaos has declined by about 30% in three years time to only 77,794 last year from 110,268 in 2010. Also, the Provincial Veterinarian Office reported that despite the province being one of the top carabao-raisers nationwide, Pangasinan has not reached a hundred percent sufficiency level when it comes to carabao meat production.

Economic considerations, particularly on addressing poverty, were cited for the campaign to pull up the number of carabaos, particularly female carabaos. Such reasons were related to the aim of making Pangasinan the major dairy-producing province in the country, alongside the goal of making our farmers earn better, of course. The plan deserves everyone’s support.

However, apart from these practical reasons, I think another point of the program that needs to be address is  the need to save our national animal because it is, after all, a national symbol, a national heritage, a source of national pride.

To borrow the words of the head of the farmers group in Lingayen, retired DAR Director Renato Navata, who was also present during the event, the issue concerning carabaos is a “Philippine ego”.

Carabao, being our national animal, means it is more than just an animal. It symbolizes the industriousness, the perseverance, and the toughness of Filipinos during hard times.  It’s more than just an animal, it’s a national pride.

I was talking about a good domino effect in my last week’s column, well, here’s another case in point. The move to regulate the sale and slaughter of carabaos in the province impacts on the local economy since it seeks to maximize their profits in the carabao industry and help preserve cultural aspect.

May other provinces replicate Pangasinan’s initiative: save our industry, save our national pride.

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