Negros Occidental to tap DSWD funds for hog raisers affected by swine deaths

BACOLOD CITY — The Negros Occidental provincial government will tap funds from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s program to help hog raisers whose pigs have died from various diseases.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Friday, June 2, said the available Assistance to Individuals in Crisis’ Situations (AICS) fund is only P4 million so it will not be able to cover all of the affected hog raisers.

“We are looking at providing assistance of P2,000 per affected hog raiser,” he said.

The funds, the governor said, will augment the assistance from the city and town governments where the farmers are located.

A total of 1,758 farmers have been affected by the death of 9,268 pigs from various illnesses in Negros Occidental, causing losses of P107,278,600 as of Friday, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) reported.

READ: Negros Occidental loses P102.5 million to swine deaths

The provincial government has distributed 400 heads of hardened chicks to 20 affected hog raisers in Valladolid, said Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.

“This is an initial assistance given by the provincial government in its desire to provide alternative livelihood support to affected swine raisers,” he said.

So far, only one pig tested positive for African swine fever (ASF) in Negros Occidental. This hog was traced to Barangay Mabini, Pulupandan town.

Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Peña ordered the culling of pigs within the 500-meter radius from where the ASF-positive pig was detected, the governor said.

The PVO supervised the local government’s culling and disposal of 15 pigs owned by three hog raisers on Thursday night.