The Negros Occidental provincial government and the Bacolod City government are drawing up their respective lists of hog raisers who will receive cash assistance due to losses brought by hog cholera and African swine fever (ASF).
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said yesterday Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has already approved the release of P2,000 for each family with reported swine deaths based on the recommendation of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
“As soon as the recommended beneficiaries are submitted for the governor’s approval, we will move without further delay. We will provide assistance on top of what they will receive from the local government units [LGUs],” he told reporters.
Diaz said the province has allotted P10 million that would be divided among the beneficiaries and plans to provide alternative sources of livelihood, such as chicken breeding.
“The procedure on how to claim and who will be the priority will be discussed by the Incident Management Team for orderly and fair distribution of assistance,” he added.
In Negros Occidental, four localities have confirmed cases — Pulupandan, Victorias City, and Silay City, as well as Bacolod.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez advised hog raisers to register with their respective barangays to avail of cash indemnification due to losses brought by cases of ASF.
“Last, we discussed how to compensate the affected backyard raisers. That’s what the barangay captains are doing now [registration]. Before they are given compensation, they should be registered with the barangays,” he said.
Last week, the city government allotted P10 million for cash indemnification.
Benitez also said part of the city government’s plan is to register residents involved in the backyard animal industry for monitoring and regulation.
In Bacolod, ASF cases have been detected in barangays Taculing and Tangub.
Meanwhile, data from the PVO as of Monday afternoon, June 12, showed 17 out of the 31 LGUs in Negros Occidental have reported swine deaths mainly due to hog cholera.
More than 12,000 pigs have died, resulting in about P139 million in total losses. (PNA)