The Department of Agriculture (DA) stated that it will soon complete compensation for all backyard breeders whose pigs have been culled by the government to curb the spread of African swine fever (ASF).

DA stated that it received a total of 2.158 billion pesos from backyard pig farmers whose pigs were culled in ASF-infected areas. Pig farmers are entitled to P5,000 for each pig culled.

The agency stated that it has paid 78.63% or 1.697 billion pesos of total compensation claims. A total of 48,530 pig farmers have benefited from the program.

DA stated that after President Duterte approves the additional compensation fund, the remaining 461 million pesos will be issued soon, covering 92,200 culled pigs.

"We are grateful to President Duterte for recently approving our request for an additional 461 million pesos to complete our ASF compensation, totaling 2.158 billion pesos," Agriculture Secretary William D. Dahl said in a statement.

DA added that it continues to provide financial and technical assistance to pig farmers affected by ASF through its dual breeding program: "Bantay ASF sa Barangay" and a comprehensive national pig production plan.

"We will continue to provide farmers with the technical and financial assistance they need so that they can start again, as we are strongly committed to containing, managing and controlling African swine fever, and subsequently revitalizing the country's pig industry."

DA stated that to date, it has distributed 8,169 sentry pigs to 3,061 farmer beneficiaries in 312 ASF-free Barangay.

It added that it will establish 10 community production facilities in ASF-free areas or “green areas” through clustering and integration, worth 50 million pesos, including capacity building for 300 growers located in the biosafety zone and cooperation with pig farmers. Household cooperatives and associations, local government units (LGU), and state universities and colleges have established 16 pig breeding farms valued at 125 million pesos.

The government is providing a total of 42.8 billion pesos loan policy committee (800 million pesos) through the Philippine Land Bank (30 billion pesos), the Philippine Development Bank (12 billion pesos) and the Agricultural Credit of the Department of Agriculture to backyards and commercial pig farmers in ASF-free areas. peso).

“DA encourages backyard and commercial pig farmers to insure their livestock with the Philippine Crop Insurance Company to provide fatteners and breeders with insurance coverage of up to P10,000, respectively,” it said.

The agency stated that it has purchased and distributed 134 ASF rapid PCR test kits to LGU to strengthen their early detection and monitoring in the field. DA revealed that next year all DA regional animal diagnostic laboratories will be equipped with RT-PCR equipment, which can be used not only to detect ASF virus, but also to detect other animal or human pathogenic organisms.

"Therefore, we once again call on all backyards and commercial breeders across the country to adjust their production and biosafety protocols, comply with the new normal, and work together to prevent ASF infection and resurgence."

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