By Nestle G. Taala

Pastor Malicia receives a native chicken as his prize from Dean Dr. James Cabarles.

As a reward for their hard work and productivity, Central Philippine University gave out Seventy-Five Thousand Pesos worth of native chicken and feeds to the two (2) most successful stewards of CPU-CPBC Chicken Dispersal Project namely Pastor Mirvin Cañete and Pastor Elizardo Malicia. They received their respective prizes from CPU on January 2, 2022.

With the goal of helping the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (CPBC), Inc. pastors with their livelihood projects; augmenting their meager income; and providing livelihood projects for their church members, Chicken Dispersal Project is a partnership between CPU and CPBC that started last December 2020 with 15 pastors receiving eight (8) chickens and two (2) roosters each. In this project, according to CPBC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Jerson B. Narciso, “the recipient who can produce more out of what they had received will be privileged to get incentives (additional chicken and feeds) from CPU.”

After a year from its implementation, Pastors Cañete and Malicia have the highest number of chickens. They had even given extra heads to their fellow pastors to raise it independently. Hence, the 60 heads of breeder stocks were given to the winners. It was added with six sacks of CPU Feeds. The remaining awards in the form of CPU Feeds will be given staggered. It is to ensure that the requirement of native chicken breeders for supplemental rations will be enough until they start to lay eggs.

The CPU-CPBC Chicken Dispersal Project is a continuing project for CPBC pastors and churches. The convention hopes that through this livelihood project, “we would be able to assist our pastors with their economic needs.”

Native chicken, as the specific subject of this project, “is easy to take care of compared to other farm animals. The production is faster due to the monthly production of eggs and chicks. The source of income can be eggs, chicks, and marketable chickens,” said Dr. Jaime C. Cabarles, Jr., CPU College of Agriculture, Resources, and Environmental Sciences.

Meanwhile, on a Facebook post, Rev. Dr. Narciso expressed his gratitude to University President Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, and Dean Cabarles for supporting this endeavor.

CPU, through Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando–on, author of Core Values of Central Philippine University, defines stewardship as “the proper and responsible management of life, position, possession, and other resources entrusted by God to man. This includes service, accountability, culture, and outreach.” Thus, CPU will continue to uphold projects such as this by recognition and aid.