ANTIQUE – Losses from hog mortalities due to African Swine Fever (ASF) in Hamtic town have reached P22,682,500.
Some 2,335 hogs from 28 of Hamtic’s 47 barangays died due to ASF as of June 26, according to the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO).
The 28 barangays affected were Pu-ao, Calala, Guintas, Caridad, EBJ, Poblacion 1, Poblacion 4, Funda, Poblacion 3, Dangcalan, Linaban, Ingwan-Batangan, Budbudan, Piapi I, Villavert-Jimenez, Asluman, Piapi II, Poblacion 2, Poblacion 5, Malandog, Mapatag, Bongbongan III, Bia-an, Igbical, Buhang, Nalihawan, Calacja, and Bonbongan I-II.
The Sangguniang Bayan declared a state of calamity last week.
Mayor Julius Ronald Pacificador said the local government unit would extend aid to affected hog raisers.
He also urged the public to follow the protocols mandated by Executive Order No. 36, Series of 2023, against the spread of the hog disease.
“Ginapangabay ko gid sa tanan nga magsunod sa mga natalana nga protocol para aton mabuligan ang aton hog and swine industry rugya sa aton banwa (I am asking everyone to follow the protocols set so that we can help our town’s hog and swine industry),” said Pacificador.
Meanwhile, the Antique provincial government allotted P1 million as an augmentation fund for strengthening border controls.
Gov. Rhodora Cadiao said it is for hiring additional personnel to man the boundaries of Iloilo-Antique, Aklan-Antique, and barangays surrounding Hamtic.
The province also has a P10 million standby fund for the campaign against ASF.
The Technical Working Group, together with local chief executives of Hamtic, San Jose de Buenavista, Sibalom and nearby towns, will decide on where to allot the fund, Cadiao added./PN
