BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Agriculture (DA)-Caraga through its Regulatory Division on Friday, November 12, released an indemnity fund amounting to PhP385,000 to the local government units (LGUs) of Butuan, Buenavista, and Las Nieves in the province of Agusan del Norte.

Ninety thousand pesos was given to nine backyard hog raisers of Barangay Florida, Butuan City while PhP135,000 was also given to the 16 backyard raisers of Barangay Alubihid and Abilan, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. A total of PhP160,000 allocated for 12 hog raisers of Barangay Bonifacio, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte. 

The assistance was handed over by the Regional ASF focal person Dr. Apple Jaromahum and Veterinarian III of Regulatory Division Dr. Marie Jocelyn C. Santiago. 

In pursuant to the Memorandum from the Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar, the indemnity to the ASF-hit hog farmers will directly go through the swine insurance program of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).  

The PCIC encourages backyard raisers who are still in the green zone to participate and avail of the subsidized Swine Mortality Insurance, as a risk transfer mechanism if such virus is detected in their areas. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)