ILOILO – The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas will start swine repopulation in the municipality of Oton only after carrying out a risk assessment on African swine fever (ASF).
“We won’t recommend repopulation unless we have assessed the risk for ASF,” said DA officer-in-charge regional executive director Jose Albert Barrogo.
While the risk assessment has yet to start, the provincial government and the DA will work together to look at the situation in areas that used to be ASF-infected, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said.
The provincial government and the DA released P1.64 million in financial aid and 400 packs of vegetable seeds to 189 validated hog raisers from Oton affected by ASF.
The financial assistance ranged from P7,000 to P30,000 for each hog raiser, depending on the assessed value of their affected hogs.
Oton has more than 500 swine growers while about 3,000 hogs were depopulated due to the ASF.
“The war against ASF is not only to contain and to stop but to maintain the supply,” Defensor said.
The impact of depopulation in September and October last year has yet to be felt but there will be a supply problem three months from now if the spread of infection persists.
Data from DA show that as of Jan. 16, a total of 14 towns in the province have ASF cases. (PNA/PN)