DA seeks village help to enforce ASF protocols

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking the help of Northern Mindanao village officials to enforce African swine fever (ASF) protocols among backyard hog raisers.

On Saturday, DA Undersecretary for Livestock Dr. William Medrano and Secretary William Dar visited ASF-affected areas in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental.

The DA's 'Bantay ASF sa Barangay' program aims to establish a mechanism where local government units (LGUs) tap village officials to help enforce ASF protocols, avail of the agency's programs and training, and receive funds, equipment, and technical assistance.

ASF was detected in several barangays in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental, leading to the culling of around 250 pigs so far with more scheduled.

Indemnification assistance worth PHP5,000 per hog is being given to affected raisers, with additional PHP2,000 per head from local government counterparts.

The DA also launched a P29.6-billion program aimed at effectively arresting the spread of ASF and reviving the badly-hit swine industry.

In Albay province, 109 hogs in Malinao town were culled after testing positive for ASF, adding to the 857 hogs already depopulated in the province.