During a public meeting of Hamlet farmers, one resident made an observation that if they could only have money to buy pigs, chickens, and ducks for home poultry and swine projects, their farm lives could be very much improved.
I promised them that I would look into this project by approaching their local government officials, such as the Animal Husbandry Chief and the Finance Chief. With the help of my interpreter, I approached the Finance Chief about lending the people money sufficient to buy a pair of pigs, a pair of chickens, and a pair of ducks, using these animals as collaterals. He agreed to give a loan of five thousand piastras (₱3,000) to each family in that hamlet for this project, equivalent to $50.00.
The Animal Husbandry Chief agreed to buy and bring to the hamlet as many piglets, ducks, and chickens as they needed, to be sold to them.
A ceremony to open this project was programmed, with the Village Chief as their Guest Speaker. I was supposed to attend this program but my interpreter did not show up. Two incidents happened: A bridge leading to the hamlet was blown up by the VC’s (Viet Congs) and during the ceremony two VC’s and their families surrendered, with their firearms.
During the actual lending of the money and buying of the animals, I was there. I saw the family head get the money, give it to his wife, who first bought a lottery ticket and a piece of jewelry before buying the pigs, ducks, and chickens.
I opened to them the U.S. warehouse, where they got pieces of aluminum roofing, cement, rebar, bulgur wheat, and cooking oil for FREE. I used my pickup for delivery.
After three months I visited the hamlet with the U.S. Rep. and MACV Chief, and what did we see? Cement pig pens with aluminum roofing, added to each home made of mud and palm roofing. The animals enjoyed better dwellings than the hamlet people. Praise the Lord!
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