File photo shows personnel of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Central Luzon vaccinating a pig against African swine fever in San Simon town, Pampanga province recently. (Photo courtesy of DA-Central Luzon)
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) should put focus more on the African swine fever (ASF) issue in its proposed budget for 2025, Senator Nancy Binay said on Tuesday.
Binay, during he DA budget hearing said the department should specify all ASF-related expenses as a separate line item, pointing out that ASF remains a concern in the country.
“Isn’t it that our problem with ASF seems like it will last for a while? I think it might be better to have a specific line item dedicated to ASF because this problem appears to be an ongoing concern,” Binay said in Filipino.
Binay stated the line item for ASF will address all concerns related to the issue, including vaccine procurement and other necessary measures to combat ASF.
“Perhaps that line item could include the procurement of the ASF vaccine and anything related to addressing ASF,” she added.
“Fastbreak”
During the hearing, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Constante Palabrica revealed that some farmers are engaging in “fastbreak”, or selling of ASF-infected pigs in the market.
“They’re quickly selling the pigs instead of declaring them. So, when they see pigs that are no longer eating, they sell them, which is why the disease is spreading,” Palabrica bared in Filipino.
Hence, to curb the cases of ASF in the country and avoid “fastbreak”, the DA is incentivizing the surrender infected pigs.
Sows, or “inahin” are priced from P8,000 to P10,000, Palabrica added.
However, the DA noted that the funds meant to incentivize farmers take one month before they are released.
“The DA has already increased the compensation for sows from P8,000 to P12,000. But based on a study, it takes about a month before the payment is released to those who wish to declare. It goes through a process,” said Palabrica.
The DA official added that the funds are currently subtracted from the Quick Response Fund (QRF), a reserve fund used for relief and rehabilitation during disasters and calamities.
The DA earlier proposed a budget of P157.6 billion, with P112.26 million allocated for the Office of the Secretary, P16.7 million for attached agencies, and P28.6 million for attached corporations.