By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

An additional 800 hog raisers affected by African swine fever in Negros Occidental last year will receive financial assistance.

Chiqui Gonzales, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said the latest batch of beneficiaries is from the towns of Valladolid, Hinigaran and San Enrique.

Gonzales said each beneficiary will receive P2,000 in cash assistance on February 13.

The provincial government has also allocated P10 million for 5,000 local hog raisers.

Gonzales said 196 beneficiaries in Victorias City and around 200 from Ilog town have already been qualified for the aid.

She added that the distribution process may take time due to the submission of requirements before approval.

The turnover of cash assistance for the affected hog raisers was delayed due to an aid distribution ban during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections last year.

The provincial government has also provided other forms of assistance to alleviate the challenges faced by hog raisers and to boost pork supply in the province./DGB, WDJ