- GILBERT BAYORAN
On top of the P10 million financial support to hog raisers affected by swine diseases in Negros Occidental, Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, said Wednesday the Capitol might allocate additional funds for such assistance.
Diaz said that the P25 million unused budget allocated earlier to address the COVID-19 pandemic, which is no longer a health emergency, will be realigned to assist more affected hog raisers, and for other projects of the provincial government that may need funding.
“We will submit the proposal to the Sanggunian Panlalawigan for approval,” he added.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office initially listed 2,250 hog raisers as recipients of P2,000 cash assistance each, totaling P4.5 million.
Records of the Provincial Animal Biosecurity Incident Management Team showed that 4,251 hog raisers in the province have been affected by swine diseases.
As of their July 31 report, 17,755 pigs died, equivalent to 9.81 percent of the 181,048 hog population in Negros Occidental, with losses to industry pegged at P198.8 million.
Of the 31 municipalities and components cities of Negros Occidental, Diaz said that Don Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava, Toboso, Escalante City, Sagay City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Sipalay City, Candoni, and Hinobaan have remained free of the African swine fever infection.
Diaz said hog raisers who were able to receive cash aid from their respective local government units will also receive financial assistance from the provincial government.
“The amount we are giving is not really commensurate, but it’s a way of saying that the provincial government cares for them, and whatever assistance we can extend to them, we will not hesitate (to give),” he said./GB
