THE local government of Kabacan, North Cotabato released P1.2 million worth of financial aid to hog farmers affected by the African swine fever (ASF) last Monday.

Mark Osoteo, town information officer, said the recipients received the cash grants during a brief ceremony attended by several local officials and agriculture personnel at the town hall.

The local government unit (LGU) repaid the financial aid based on the hogs being depopulated. P5,000 is given for every sow or boar, P4,000 for fattener and grower, and P1,500 for weanlings and P500 for each suckling or piglet.

“The amount received by each beneficiary depends upon how many hogs that he owned have been culled,” Osoteo said.

Only 57 out of 86 affected farmers, who are not members of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC), received the assistance.

He further said they had coordinated with the PCIC to promptly download the needed interventions to the affected hog raisers.

The cash grant was a part of the LGU’s 5-percent calamity fund following the declaration of the municipal “state of calamity” due to ASF infestation last month.

Latest reports reveal that nine villages were infested by the ASF in Kabacan such as Bangilan, Dagupan, Katidtuan, Lower Paatan, Malamote, Malanduague, Osias, Upper Paatan, and Kuyapon.

The LGU has earlier depopulated 678 hogs.

Osoteo said the municipality has recorded zero additional cases of ASF in the past seven days.

“If this continues in the next three months, we could start the repopulation procedure,” he said.

SOURCE: https://www.manilatimes.net