CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--A total of 637 hog raisers received P10.81 million worth of African Swine Fever (ASF) indemnity from the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Office (DA-RFO)-10 as the agency capped the first batch of ASF payout in 17 barangays in Cagayan de Oro City, July 16.
The DA indemnifies P5,000 for each pig culled on account of the ASF contagion.
Aside from the DA’s payout, the hog raisers also received P2,000 cash assistance from the City Government of CDO earlier this year.
The indemnity rollout is undertaken in close coordination with the City Agriculture Office, particularly in registering the bonafide hog raisers to DA's official farmers and fishers' registry, Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.
Validation of the ASF-affected areas and profiling of hog raisers are jointly conducted with the City Veterinary Office.
The DA is optimistic such assistance will help hog raisers to start alternative livelihood as means to recuperate from the ASF infestation, especially since they are temporarily prohibited to raise hogs until their area is cleared for swine repopulation.
Elsira Niebla, 51, a hog raiser from Barangay Tumpagon said the P10,000 indemnity she received out of two pigs culled is helpful enough for a livelihood amid the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic.
"Pasalamat mi sa DA. Bisan tuod gikuha ang among baboy, gibayaran mi para makabangon mi sa among panginabuhian. Akong gamiton kini nga hinabang para mag-negosyo sama sa pagpangompra sa lubi ug saging," she said.
(We are very grateful of DA. Although our pigs were culled, we were paid so that we can go on with our livelihood. I am planning to use the assistance in trading coconut and banana)
The first two ASF cases here were reported in Barangays San Simon and Mambuaya and this was confirmed, February 8 this year, following the issuance of confirmatory laboratory test result by DA-10.
Thereafter, the cases ballooned, affecting 17 barangays in the city and resulted to depopulation of a total 3,783 hogs, as of date.
"We are concerned that our hog raisers' livelihood was compromised, but we have to do what is best to protect the region's hog industry. As for now, we will be implementing recovery programs that would help our hog raisers, especially the backyard raisers, to gain their livelihood. Part of the program is strict implementation of the Bantay ASF sa Barangay and the rollout of Swine Insurance Program of the Philippine Crop Insurance, Corp.," Collado said.
Currently DA-10 is processing the second batch indemnity worth P6,650,000 for the 1,330 culled hogs of 306 hog raisers in the city. It is eyed that the fund will be ready for release within the third quarter of the year.
Meanwhile, Collado is calling out the support of the region’s hog industry stakeholders to beef up the DA's campaign to contain the ASF infestation in the region.
“To contain and manage the spread of ASF requires immediate and coordinated action. And so we are calling for the continued support and active participation of the hog raisers, the private sector and the local governments in the implementation of DA’s projects and programs to revitalize Northern Mindanao’s hog industry,” Collado said. (DA-10/PIA-10)
