The City Government sustains assistance to hog raisers affected by African Swine Fever (ASF) even as no new cases have been reported in the last 269 days.

This, as Mayor John Dalipe together with Vice Mayor Josephine Pareja Wednesday morning led the distribution of financial aid to 449 ASF-hit hog raisers as part of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program at the Sta. Maria covered court.

 The AICS program is implemented by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and is in line with the mayor’s desire to support and assist families affected by calamities or disasters.  

Beneficiaries during the payout f P5,000 per hog raiser were from barangays Calabasa, Divisoria, Guiwan, Lunzuran, Mercedes, Talisayan, Bunguiao, Curuan, Dulian Upper Bunguiao, Lumayang, Sibulao, Cabaluay, Cabatangan, Calarian, Maasin, Mampang, Manicahan, Pasobolong, Pasonanca, San Roque, Sangali, Sta. Maria, Talbaan, Zambowood and Limaong.

As of June 19, 2023, financial assistance to ASF-hit farmers has reached P4.50M, of which P2.72M covered indemnification for 274 hog raisers at P2,500 per head of culled hog; P1.04M for DOLE-TUPAD for 298 hog raisers and P680K for CSWDO-AICS for 136 hog raisers. 

The financial assistance is apart from the family food packs distributed by the CSWDO through the Office of the City Veterinarian for 1,098 hog raisers and the sentinel pigs program through the Department of Agriculture that distributed 200 heads of swine to 65 hog raisers in 10 barangays. 

Meanwhile, the Task Force ASF through the OCVET continues blood collection on sentinel pigs; animal health monitoring activity on sentinel pigs and ongoing border control and quarantine checkpoints and information, education and communication (IEC) materials. 

Records also show that since September 2022, a total of 1,098 hog raisers from 34 barangays were hardest hit by the ASF. Total number of hog mortalities due to ASF remains at 4,655 with 1,122 culled hogs.

Present during the payout were Councilor Jerome Santos, City Veterinarian Dr. Mario Arriola, OCVET, CSWDO and City Treasurer’s Office staff, Executive Assistants Edna Sumergido and JR Natividad and some barangay officials. (Sheila Covarrubias)