Local officials in Eastern Samar have assured aid for hog farmers who were affected by the prevalence of African swine fever (ASF) in Borongan City.
Dr. Melanie Osita, the ASF provincial focal person and assistant head of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV), told local media that the initiative aims to provide much-needed relief to local hog raisers within ASF “ground zero” — a 0.5-kilometer radius from the affected demo farm at Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) in Borongan.
Specifically, this assistance will cover farmers who are not covered by insurance through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
“Parauma nga waray insurance ha PCIC pero naapektuhan han ASF, eligible hira ha indemnification, basta an ira mga baktin napailarom ha culling,” Osita said.
The indemnity ranges from P4,000 for young pigs (30 to 90 days old, under 25 kilogram), to P8,000 for growers (up to 70 kilogram), and P16,000 for breeders and boars, depending on the type and size of the pig culled.
However, Osita stressed that only farmers who did not insure their livestock under PCIC are eligible, citing government policy against double compensation.
The impact of this policy reaches beyond financial recovery. Authorities hope the measure will help control the spread of ASF by encouraging farmers to report symptoms early and avoid illegal slaughtering or concealment of infected animals.
“Diri la ini bulig pinansyal, bulig ini ha pagpugong han mas haluag nga kadaot. Ginkikinahanglan an kooperasyon han ngatanan nga parauma,” Osita emphasized.
Osita added the City Veterinary Office will serve as the program’s main implementing arm, with technical support from the Provincial Veterinary Office, which will assist in geotagging affected areas and marking the 500-meter buffer zone for disease containment.
The city government of Borongan had earlier declared a "pork holiday" from April 4 to 18 after three cases of ASF were detected in their farms.
Aside from the ban on the slaughter and sale of fresh pork and pork-derived products within Borongan City, all pig farms were directed to implement and complete massive disinfection on their respective farms during the pork holiday to prevent further contamination.
(With report from the Philippine Information Agency)
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