Customers shop for pork meat in Marikina Public Market on March 14, 2023.
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) should provide financial assistance to hog raisers affected by the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in Antique, Gov. Rhodora Cadiao said yesterday.
In a radio interview, Cadiao said the provincial government recently released P5 million for affected livestock growers.
“We hope the DA will help us. We don’t know the extent (of the ASF outbreak) as it may reach the entire province,” she said.
Cadiao said P19 million worth of hogs had been culled to prevent the spread of ASF.
“We are waiting for the DA to provide assistance to help hog raisers, especially small backyard hog raisers. They were supposed to save their pigs for the tuition of their children. We need to help the poorest of the poor who only depend on backyard hog raising,” she said.
Cadiao said she ordered the setting up of checkpoints in all barangays to monitor the entry of pigs and other pork products.
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She blamed the spread of ASF in the province to hog raisers who still sell or give away free pork products.
Aside from Antique, the provinces affected by ASF outbreaks in the Visayas are Aklan, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Cebu, Leyte, Northern Samar and Southern Leyte.
The Bureau of Animal Industry said Bohol, Siquijor and Biliran remain free from ASF while Eastern Samar has recovered from the swine disease.
