By Jen Baylon

An additional 900 hog raisers affected by African swine fever (ASF) in Negros Occidental will receive financial assistance.

Chiqui Gonzales, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office head, said the farmer-beneficiaries will each receive P2,000 in aid.

Gonzales said the funds were sourced from the cash advance approved by the Provincial Treasurer’s Office.

Most beneficiaries are from Ilog town, and several barangays in San Enrique and Valladolid towns, as well as the cities of Kabankalan, Talisay and Silay.

More than 1,000 local hog raisers are yet to receive the assistance, bringing the total number of qualified farmer-beneficiaries to 5,000.

The financial assistance aims to alleviate the burden faced by hog raisers whose livelihoods have been severely affected by ASF.

Gonzales expressed their commitment to supporting the affected hog raisers and reiterated the importance of collaboration and community assistance during times of crisis.

The ongoing efforts seek to mitigate the economic repercussions of the ASF outbreak and assist the local hog industry./JB, WDJ