Declare state of calamity due to ASF, Marcos urged
Citing that local hog raisers have lost P100 billion due to the African Swine Fever (ASF), Sen. Francis Tolentino has urged President Marcos to declare a state of national calamity due to its impact on the swine industry.
Under Senate Resolution No. 565, Tolentino said data showed that the virus has spread to 460 towns across 54 of 82 provinces in the country.
He said the ASF, first detected in the country in 2019, has “devastated” the swine industry.
READ: Persistent pig pandemic
“Farmers’ groups are lamenting what they describe as the government’s weak response to the outbreak,” Tolentino said.
He said a state of calamity would allow the Department of Agriculture and local governments to use appropriate funds, including their Quick Response Fund, to address the crisis.
—Nestor Corrales
READ: Duterte declares state of calamity due to African swine fever
