ILOILO – A total of 192 hog raisers in Oton town affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) are expected to receive financial assistance this week.
Vice Mayor Jose Neil P. Olivares said the local government unit of Oton, through Mayor Sofronio L. Fusin, Jr., received a check worth P1,646,000 from the Iloilo provincial government on Friday, Dec. 16.
Oton was the first in the province and Western Visayas to record cases of ASF.
Here are the ASF-affected barangays in Oton: Bita Norte, Caboloan Norte, Caboloan Sur, Sta. Monica, Bita Sur, Abilay Norte, Galang, Tagbak Norte, Buray, Sta. Rita, San Antonio, Poblacion South, Pakiad, Poblacion West, Mambog, Batuan Ilaya, Sta. Clara, Sambaludan, Calamisan, Cadinglian, Salngan, Batuan Ilaud, Botong, Poblacion East, Trapiche, Tuburan, Tagbak Sur, Rizal, Abilay Sur, Pulo Maestra Vita, and Lambuyao.
Based on the executive order issued by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., the amount of financial assistance to be given to affected hog raisers will be based on the number of swine heads, whether sow, fattener, or young swine (except suckling), as follows:
* one to five hog heads – P7,000
* six to 10 hog heads – P10,000
* 11 to 15 hog heads – P15,000
* 16 to 20 hog heads – P20,00
* 21 to 25 hog heads – P25,000, and
* 26 hog heads and above – P30,000
As part of the guidelines, the depopulation must be documented by the provincial / municipal / city ASF taskforce.
In the grant of financial assistance to swine farmers, only one farm owner (individual / family / company / cooperative) per farm shall be recognized as beneficiary.
Meanwhile, farms that conducted swine depopulation because of suspected or probable ASF cases but not under the supervision of the provincial / municipal / city ASF taskforce, shall not be qualified for financial assistance.
The financial aid to affected hog farmers will be taken from the approved P40 million supplemental budget of the provincial government.
The list of beneficiaries will be based on the submissions of the respective local government units affected by ASF./PN
