DIGOS CITY –– The provincial government of Davao Occidental has released P50 million to pay for the hogs culled to prevent the spread of the African Swine Fever (ASF) disease last February.
Governor Claude Bautista said the compensation is just the counterpart of the provincial government, while that from the Department of Agriculture has yet to be released.
Payments have started on April 16.
Marivic Flores Hubac, executive assistant to the governor, said about 4,000 backyard raisers voluntarily turned over their hogs to provincial veterinary authorities for culling.
These farmers come from 25 villages in Malita town, three villages in Santa Maria, five villages in Jose Abad Santos, and 15 villages in Don Marcelino town, where the ASF outbreak in the province happened.
The provincial government paid P3,500 per head of boar and P2,000 per head for fatteners.