After ducks, Erap now into pigs

Old McErap had a farm?

Aside from feeding his ducks, deposed President Joseph Estrada is now reportedly raising pigs and poultry as a way to pass time on his 18-hectare estate in Tanay, Rizal while his plunder case before the Sandiganbayan drags on.

The 68-year-old Estrada said he is now raising native chickens and "land-raised" pigs, not only for home consumption, but to help provide livelihood to poor families living around Barangay Sampalok.

This is because Estrada plans to distribute two- to three-month-old "land-raised" piglets per family, which they can raise to full-grown sows for breeding.

Fr. Willy Gula, parish priest of St. Jude Thaddeus, disclosed the former president has asked him to be the chief organizer of the "pig dispersal project" in Barangay Sampalok, since it is under the jurisdiction of his parish.

Estrada’s rest house is surrounded by 15,000 to 20,000 residents of Sampalok who will benefit from the program.

Fr. Gula, assisted by barangay officials of his parish, will select the family beneficiaries and monitor their compliance with the "contract" they sign in which they agree not to sell nor use for food the donated pig.

Under the same "contract," Fr. Gula said, each family must turn over at least three out of ten future piglets to be delivered by their sow. A "landrace" sow can give birth to as many as 14 piglets.

The piglets that each family returns to Estrada will then be distributed to the next batch of family beneficiaries.

Pig-raising is a common source of livelihood as well as food for Filipinos in rural and countryside. Pork is sold at about P140 a kilo while live piglets are sold at P100 per kilo.

Estrada started his pig dispersal project six months ago and he has so far given 120 piglets to 60 families. At present count, his piggery has a total of 69 of pigs– with only three boars available for breeding.

"Ang swerte ng tatlong bulugan na iyan (How lucky these three boars are)!" he joked.

Estrada’s piggery and poultry farm are the latest additions to his carp pond, where he also raises ducks of various breeds, from Peking ducks to mallards, as well as the local variety of this fowl, the eggs of which later become favorite Filipino delicacies like "balut," "penoy" and salted eggs.

"I make myself productive even I’m in detention here," Estrada said.

In fact, Estrada regularly sends to his 98-year-old mother, Doña Mary, some of the native eggs from his poultry.

"Ang liit naman ng itlog ni Joseph (How small Joseph’s eggs are)!" Estrada’s mother supposedly remarked when told the eggs came from his detained son in Tanay.

Estrada employs a veterinarian and helpers to attend to his growing animal menagerie, which now includes pigs, chickens, ducks, ostriches, carabaos and cows, horses and a collection of exotic birds in his aviary at Tanay.

Estrada claims he has become an expert on porcine matters, and may soon qualify to join the Second Asian Pig Veterinary Society (APVS), which holds its summit congress here in Manila from Sept. 19-21 at the EDSA Shangri-La.

The summit hopes to create awareness on the role, challenges and obstacles faced by Asian veterinarians and pork producers.

APVS 2005 president Dr. Zoilo M. Lapus said the conference will bring to Manila 600 delegates from Japan, Korea, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, United States, Russia, Australia, Germany and France.

"This event will not only benefit the Asian hog industry but also boost Philippine tourism," Lapus said.

Lapus said the APVS "promises to be very enriching," covering the latest trends in swine health and production with top veterinary specialists from Asia, US and Europe in attendance.