Agriculture Secretary William Dar instructed the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) and Director Reildrin Morales to support the production and distribution of rabbit for meat consumption and livelihood.

“We will see to it that we provide strong support the massive production of rabbits to be distributed initially here in Caloocan, so we can show the world that rabbit meat can be a substitute for pork,” Secretary Dar said during the Rabbit Dispersal Project launch at the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Caloocan on October 26, 2021.

He added that DA will support the advocacy of the Association of Rabbit Meat Producers, Inc. led by Artemio Veneracion, Jr. for the development of the local rabbit industry.

BAI will facilitate the establishment of necessary guidelines and provide assistance for the industry, which is still considered to be at the infancy stage.

With the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and the African swine fever outbreak to the hog industry, Secretary Dar and Director Morales said that rabbit meat can be a healthy alternative to pork.

Many hotels, restaurants, and entrepreneurs have already developed different rabbit-based dishes.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Grace Parish led by Fr. Eduardo “Ponpon” Vasquez, Jr., OMI targets to provide rabbits to parishioners for additional source of income. The rabbit dispersal package includes a cage, two-month old upgraded breed rabbit, automatic drinker, two kilograms of pellets, nest box, and a manual on rabbit raising.

The event was attended by Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan and Vice Mayor Maca Asistio. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)