(Photo from Brett Sayles of Pexels)
(Photo from Brett Sayles of Pexels)

Bacolod allots P10-M for affected backyard hog raisers

THE city government of Bacolod has allocated P10 million financial assistance for the backyard hog raisers who have suspected African swine fever (ASF) cases.

Acting City Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, chairperson of the City Council committee on appropriations and finance, said Tuesday, June 6, the city will provide assistance to the backyard hog raisers who are affected by the culling of the pigs.

He said for the piglets, the owner will receive P3,000, P5,000 for the fatteners, and P7,000 for the breeding pigs.

He added that the budget was taken from the city’s disaster preparedness funds.

Sayson also said that the budget was already approved by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) committee and will be submitted to the City Council.

Sayson stressed that the backyard hog raisers can avail the assistance if there’s a positive ASF case within their barangays and their pigs will be subjected for culling.

“All the pigs within 500-meter radius will be subjected for culling to prevent the spread of ASF virus,” Sayson said.

To break the chain of the ASF, he said they will implement the Department of Agriculture guidelines for the culling of pigs within the 500-meter radius around the area with positive ASF cases.

On May 31, at least 23 pigs were culled at Barangay Taculing as precaution against the spread of suspected ASF.

Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran earlier said they already received the result from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) in Manila and it was confirmed that two pigs from Barangay Taculing and the two pigs in Barangay Tangub have tested positive for ASF virus.

“We have now four positive ASF cases and we also culled the pigs suspected of having been infected with the ASF virus in Barangay Tangub,” he said.

Moreover, City Administrator Atty. Pacifico Maghari III said about 48 barangays have already formed a para-veterinary (para-vet) team to monitor and prevent the spread of ASF cases within their barangays.

He said the barangay para-vet representatives already underwent a seminar on June 2 at the Bacolod City Government Center, adding that they will hold a second batch of training next week so that they will be equipped on how to handle the ASF cases within their barangays.

Maghari noted that the par-vet will serve as an extension of the ASF task force on the ground to address the ASF cases in the city.

As a biosecurity officer, Maghari said the para-vet will evaluate the symptoms of the pigs then, they will coordinate with the City Veterinary Office (CVO) and the ASF task force.

He said they are also waiting for the final list of the backyard hog raisers in the city.*

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