The provincial government of Negros Occidental has approved an initial P10 million for financial assistance and alternative livelihood programs for hog raisers affected by the recent swine deaths, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz disclosed recently.
Diaz said that the provincial government will give P2,000 each and free-range chickens as alternative livelihood for affected families into hog raising, as determined by the Provincial Veterinary Office, through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation Program Department of Social Welfare and Development.
PVO records showed that the number of affected hog raisers has risen to 2,342, as of June 12.
Once the funds are consumed, Diaz said they will find additional funds.
He also said that the provincial government has yet to reach the 15 percent threshold of mortality in the total hog population, in order to declare a state of calamity. But he stressed that provincial government will not utilize all its calamity funds for the affected raisers, stressing the need to have a standby fund for other calamities.
When he inquired from the Department of Agriculture on possible funds to be distributed to affected hog raisers, Diaz said he was informed that the agency has no funds allocated, as they are also relying on local government units.
As of June 12, Negros Occidental logged has 12,355 hog deaths due to various swine diseases, with losses to industry placed at P139,041,525.
Cases of the deadly African Swine Fever virus has been detected in the cities of Bacolod, Victorias and Silay, as well as Pulupandan town.
Diaz blamed the entry of ASF in Negros Occidental on the entry of pork related products from other areas of the country, by Negrenses and visitors, who were able to evade inspections at the entry points of the province.
While they were able to successfully prevent the entry of ASF in the province, Diaz said the easing of travel restrictions and bringing of goods from other areas contributed to the spread of infections.
(Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)
