The City Government’s support and assistance to hog raisers affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) has already reached P6,740,980.00 as of July 24, 2023.

Records released by the Task Force ASF show that the city’s assistance continue unabated, even as no new ASF case has been reported since September 2022.

The assistance include indemnification for 274 hog raisers at P2,500 per head of culled swine amounting to P2.77 million; the grant of P5K under the assistance to individuals in crisis situation (AICS) program of the City Social Welfare and Development for 585 hog raisers amounting to P2.925 million and the implementation of DOLE-TUPAD program that benefited 298 hog raisers amounting to a total of P1.045 million.

This financial assistance is apart from the family food packs released through the CSWDO for each of the 1,098 ASF-hit hog raisers.

On the other hand, a total of 225 heads of sentinel pigs were distributed to 75 hog raisers across 16 barangays. The sentinel hogs were sourced from the Department of Agriculture and will be monitored weekly from day 7 to day 35 from the day of distribution. At day 40, blood samples will be collected from representative samples of the herd using the guideline indicated in BAI Memorandum Circular 44 series of 2021.

Meanwhile, mortalities due to ASF remain at 4,655 with 1,112 heads of pigs culled, as of July 24, 2023. The number of affected raisers total 1,098 in 34 barangays. 

City Veterinarian Dr. Mario Arriola said the weekly monitoring of sentinel pigs continue in the barangays, as well as the conduct of border control and quarantine checkpoints and distribution of IEC materials.

Blood collection from sentinel pigs likewise continues, as the city government applies for the downgrading of the red status to yellow or pink status.  (Sheila Covarrubias)