THE City Government of Bacolod is now planning to provide cash assistance to the backyard hog raisers who have suspected African swine fever (ASF) cases.
City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr., also a member of the ASF task force, said Thursday, June 1, that Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez already mentioned the distribution of financial assistance to the affected backyard hog raisers.
"It's their source of livelihood so we need to assist them," he said.
He added that they will wait for the final decision of the mayor to determine the amount to be given to the affected hog raisers.
This, after on May 31, at least 23 pigs were culled at Barangay Taculing as precaution against the spread of suspected ASF.
Ting said the 23 pigs were owned by the two backyard hog raisers in Barangay Tangub.
"We have an initial findings of ASF so it's the preventive measures of the task force for the culling of the 23 pigs suspected of having been infected with the ASF virus," he said.
He added that they were informed that one of the piggery owners went to other piggeries outside Bacolod, and when he returned, he infected their pigs with the suspected ASF virus, including the pigs of his neighbor.
Ting noted that they decided for the culling of the pigs to prevent the spread of the ASF virus.
He stressed that there will be no culling of pigs within 500-meter radius in the barangay.
For his part, Barangay Tangub Captain Noli Villarosa said the 23 pigs were buried in a vacant lot in the said village.
He said they will also provide financial assistance to the owners of the pigs.
"This is our initiative to prevent the spread of the ASF and we are willing to assist the pig owners," he added.
Moreover, Ting said they will hold a meeting Friday, June 2, at the Bacolod City Government Center with the barangay officials to determine the total number of the backyard hog raisers operating within their barangays
He said the lists will be submitted to the Department of Agriculture (DA) so they can implement a program for the affected backyard hog raisers.
"Our concern for now is the backyard hog raisers because they don't have a biosecurity," he added.
Acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran earlier said the task force is also planning to organize a para-veterinary in the barangays.
He said they will conduct a seminar Friday with the para-veterinary representatives from the barangays at the Bacolod City Government Center.*