CEBU CITY – Hog raisers in Bohol affected by African Swine Fever (ASF) received financial assistance from the provincial government.
A total of P757,000 were given to the affected hog raisers in Purok 5, Barangay Mayacabac and Purok 2, Barangay Mariveles in Dauis.
GOV. Aris Aumentado distributes financial assistance to hog farmers from Dauis, Bohol affected by African Swine Fever. (Contributed photo)
Gov. Aris Aumentado led the distribution of financial assistance on Thursday, May 9, at the ceremonial hall of the provincial capitol in Tagbilaran City.
Affected hog raises had to depopulate their swine as part of the containment measures employed by the Provincial Inter-Agency ASF Task Force.
A total of P457,000 from the indemnification fund was given to 30 hog raisers for 101 culled hogs, 77 of which were breeders or sows at P5,000 each and 24 were weanlings at P3,000 each.
The governor also turned over P10,000 for each family under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program of the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development.
The affected hog raisers will also receive P5,000 for each culled hog from the indemnification fund of the Department of Agriculture.
Aumentado thanked the hog raises for cooperating with the measures taken by the ASF Task Force.
“We are thankful for the cooperation even if the protocols are difficult. We know that this is your livelihood that helped you send your children to schools or built something to live in,” said Aumentado.
According to Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz, provincial veterinarian, one month of daily disinfection in the depopulation site as well as in index case premises is currently being conducted.
She reminded swine farmers that raising of hogs shall be strictly prohibited within three months after the last disinfection.
At the end of three months, a “sentinel” or sample pig shall be raised in the index area for the next three months, with blood sample collection for ASF testing done every 21 days.
Hog raising can then resume once fully cleared in the evaluation after the six-month period, she added.
Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte announced that the provincial government is working out a livelihood intervention through the Provincial Cooperative Development Office to provide pig pens to equip hog raisers with the proper facilities and to ensure biosecurity requirements for hog raising.
As the ASF response continues, the OPV remains in close coordination with the Dauis Municipal ASF Task Force as an ASF team will be stationed in the municipality for testing of all pigs that will be transported outside of the town.
Under Executive Order No. 17 issued by Aumentado, all pigs must test negative in the RT-PCR test before they can be transported outside of Dauis.
The cash aid for ASF affected families is intended to encourage early reporting which is crucial to the ASF response.
The provincial government has been exerting efforts to protect the province’s P6-billion hog industry comprising 48,000 hog raisers, 80 percent of them backyard raisers.