AS INDEMNIFICATION for depopulated hogs in African Swine Fever (ASF)-affected areas ended, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reiterated its call to all hog growers, including those in the green or free zones, to insure their stocks with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

With Western Visayas as one of the remaining ASF-free regions in the country, DA Regional Director Remelyn Recoter enjoined local hog raisers to register in the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA), which is one of the primary requirements in availing swine insurance.

“Those farmers listed under RSBSA could avail [themselves] of the free livestock insurance offered by the PCIC which could be of help during this uncertain situation with the luring threats of ASF to over P20 billion swine industry in the region,”Recoter said in a statement.

The regional line agency advised those who have not yet listed on RSBSA and have not yet applied for livestock insurance to visit the nearest municipal or city agriculture offices to access the forms and inquire needed information about the program.

Based on the memorandum issued by Agriculture Secretary William Dar last month, to qualify for the insurance program, beneficiaries such as backyard swine raisers listed in the RSBSA, farmer cooperatives or associations, commercial farm operators, local government units (LGUs), and state colleges or universities should comply with certain requirements.

LGUs that have jurisdiction over the farms of these beneficiaries must have adopted harmonized ordinances relevant to the prevention and control of ASF.

Also, the local governments must have prepared, and are implementing and regularly updating a city/municipal ASF Control and Prevention Plan aligned with regional initiatives of the DA Regional Field Offices (RFOs).

The DA RFOs shall provide technical assistance in the preparation and updating of the plan, while the LGUs must have organized the “Bantay sa ASF sa Barangay.”

For the hog farms, on the other hand, they must be registered with the LGU. Their operations must be compliant with the Biosecurity level 1 standard.

Farmers, or in case of commercial farms, owners and staff have been trained on biosecurity procedures.

The PCIC, for its part, has also intensified their campaign on indemnification programs through its simplified ABKD advocacy.

DA-Western Visayas said individual hog raisers could insure a maximum of 20 fatteners and 10 breeders for free under the RSBSA funds.

Excess number of heads has a minimum fee for its insurance coverage, the agency said.

The DA and PCIC have been working collaboratively in order to provide insurance protection to farmers against losses arising from natural calamities, diseases and pest infestations of crops in order to attain a food secure and resilient Philippine with empowered and prosperous farmers and fisherfolk, it added.