March 10, 2022 marks another milestone in the industry of Darag Native Chicken as the first Darag Chicken hub dubbed as ‘Abing’s Darag Chicken Trading’ was launched.
Abing’s Darag Chicken Trading owner, Mrs. Mae Gerbacia (current President of Panay Darag Chicken Breeders Association/PADABA), named the hub after Dr. Bernabe Cocjin’s nickname ‘Abing.’
Dr. Cocjin, the Darag ‘guru’ and a former President of West Visayas State University, purified the Darag stock by inbreeding them for eight generations through the support of DOST-PCAARRD (Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development).
Abing’s Darag Chicken Trading is located at the WVSU Cooperative Complex, Corner E. Lopez – Mission Road, La Paz, Iloilo City. The hub completes the value chain of Darag production and marketing. They welcome Darag raisers and business-minded Ilongos for buying and selling transactions. They serve palatable Darag menus (lechon, tinola, fried, grilled, crispy, linabugan, inasal, timuom, etc). Moreover, they also sell dressed Darag Chicken.
With the launching of Abing’s Darag trading hub, the stakeholders expect that Darag production and business will be extra propelled and contribute to the region’s immediate economic recovery from the pandemic.
Important guests attended the launching spearheaded by PADABA, included Engr. Remelyn Recoter, Regional Executive Director of Department of Agriculture VI; Dr. Joselito Villaruz, WVSU President IV; Dr. Greta Gabinete, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension; Dr. Ricky Becodo, WVSU Extension Director; Mr. Inigo D. Garingalao, Iloilo City Agriculturist; WVSU Darag Researchers and Experts (Dr. George Roxas, and Dr. Helen Genandoy); WVSU Multi-Purpose Cooperative; WESVAARRDEC; and representatives from WVSU faculty and staff. Of course, Dr. Abing Cocjin was there with individual Darag raisers from various points of Region VI.
