Calinan's 2 villages under state of calamity

Photo by Macky Lim
Photo by Macky Lim

BARANGAYS Lamanan and Dominga in Calinan District were placed under state of calamity a day after the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Davao confirmed that hogs died due to the African Swine Fever (ASF).

The Davao City Council made the declaration during a special session Friday afternoon, February 7. It was certified as urgent by City Administrator Zuleika Lopez.

The two barangays have been placed under the one-kilometer radius set by DA-Davao, as part of the "1-7-10 Protocol" set by the agency.

Under the protocol, quarantine checkpoints are set up in areas within a one-kilometer radius of suspected farms-monitoring the movement of live pigs, pork, and pork products.

DA Davao Director Bong Oñate said a lockdown in the mentioned barangays will be implemented, wherein movement control and manning of exit points will be imposed to ensure that illegal transport will be barred.

Councilor Bai Hundra Cassandra Advincula, author of the resolution, said the declaration of a state of calamity was based on the resolution approved by the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council following the confirmed ASF-case in Calinan.

She said a state of calamity is required for the City Government to provide financial assistance to affected hog raisers, which are all backyard raisers.

"DA and the City Veterinarian's Office (CVO) have since recommended for the lockdown of the area because the virus that were found in the area has no cure at the moment," Advincula told reporters right after the session at the City Council.

Following the approval of the resolution, the Council immediately passed an ordinance granting P20 million financial assistance to the affected hog raisers within the one-kilometer radius.

Upon recommendation, the CVO will give financial assistance to hog raisers by culling at P1,500 per piglet (suckling), and P5,000 per grower or P90 per kilo, whichever is higher, per grower.

This is on top of the P5,000 indemnity payment given by DA-Davao for each pig that will be culled.

Advincula, vice chairperson of the City Council committee on finance, ways and means, and appropriation, said that according to CVO, 2,714 hog raisers will be affected since DA has recommended for the immediate culling of hogs within the radius.

"This is way bigger than in the other areas, since the city and DA will both be giving financial assistance," she said.

The councilor said the fund will be sourced from the 30-percent Quick Response Fund (QRF) out of the five-percent Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund of the City Government for the calendar year 2020.

Advincula said the City Government will not be allocating another financial assistance unless new areas will be affected by the ASF.

CVO head Dr. Cerelyn Pinili, meanwhile, said the financial assistance will be turned over to affected hog raisers starting February 8.

Pinili clarified her previous statement that P5,000 cash assistance, regardless of the size and age of the hog, and an additional cash assistance will be given, depending on its weight.

She also said that approximately 3,000 hogs, including the piglets, will be culled within the two barangays, also on February 8.

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