DA to indemnify farmers up to PHP20K for culled hogs due to ASF outbreak

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will provide indemnification to farmers whose hogs were culled due to an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Barangay West Balabag, Valencia, Negros Oriental.

Each farmer will receive PHP5,000 per culled hog up to a maximum of PHP20,000 for four hogs, according to Alejandro Rafal from the DA-Provincial Agriculture Technical Coordinating Office (DA-PATCO).

As of August 9, approximately 192 hogs were culled and 37 farmers affected.

The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) concluded their depopulation efforts on Thursday, with laboratory tests for blood samples taken from pigs turning out negative as of today.

However, surveillance and monitoring continue in nearby barangays like Balugo, Calayugan, and East Balabag due to concerns about the potential presence of ASF.

Vilos said they are looking into the possibility that ASF could still be present in the province since some local government units (LGUs) and hog farmers were uncooperative in surveillance and reporting activities.