Ilocos Norte earmarks P5 million to assist ASF-hit hog raisers

FILE PHOTO: Pigs at pig farm. INA FASSBENDER/AFP

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — The government of Ilocos Norte has set aside P5 million from its calamity fund to extend help to hog raisers and farmers who had been reeling from the impact of the African swine fever (ASF).

At least 325 of the 2,300 uninsured farmers from 11 areas in the province would benefit from the allocated fund, said Dr. Loida Valenzuela, provincial veterinarian, during the regular session of the provincial board on Monday, November 22.

The assistance will cover P5,000 aid for every adult (growers and breeders) hog culled at a maximum of 20 heads per raiser, and P1,500 for every young (day-old piglet to weaners) hog culled at a maximum of 15 heads.

Valenzuela said the P5-million assistance would be extended to uninsured raisers whose hogs were culled from May to August.

A separate fund had been added to the provincial government’s budget for 2022 to benefit those who were affected from September and the succeeding months, said Valenzuela.

So far, at least 10,000 hogs had been culled in 19 of the 23 towns and cities in the province which had been affected by ASF, data from the provincial government showed. INQ