The first livestock auction market in Central Luzon on Tuesday opened in Dinalupihan town with traders interested in livestock coming from as far as Pangasinan and the neighboring provinces of Pampanga and Zambales.

Mayor Joel Payumo said the auction market will be servicing those interested in buying and selling animals like cattle, carabaos, goats, fowls and even horses every Tuesday that is observed as market day at the Dinalupihan Common Terminal.

"This is a good chance for farmers not only in Dinalupihan but the whole of Bataan to sell livestock near their place of residence," Payumo said.

Former chairman Felicito Payumo of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, a cattle and goat breeder, said there are livestock auction markets in Cavite, Batangas and Pangasinan but none yet to serve Central Luzon.

Animal raisers in Bataan, Zambales and Pampanga can now avail of the right prices for their livestock unlike when selling in very far markets where they are forced to sell their merchandise even at low costs rather than transport it back, the elder Payumo said.

Bong Tayag and Sonny Robles of Mother Earth said it was good that they do not have to go far to look for the needs of their meat processing plant in Pampanga.

They urged farmers to go into animal raising as added livelihood to augment their income aside from rice production.

Terry Torsillo, a trader from San Carlos in Pangasinan, proved to be a good merchant. From dozens of imported and native goats he bought, in just two minutes he had a profit of P200 after selling a goat he got at P2,500 (US$51.96) for P2,700.

The trader said he will be present every Tuesday to participate in the auction market. He said he would be buying not only goats but cattles and even carabaos that he will sell in Pangasinan.

The livestock are either for breeding or to be butchered except carabaos and horses. The native buffaloes are to be used either as working animals or for milking purposes.