Zambo City to assist hog raisers due to ASF

By: Jayson R. Aucensillo with reports from the City Government of Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 19 (PIA) -- Hog raisers here are urged to register for insurance to be able to get an indemnity payment for every animal afflicted and culled due to the African Swine Fever (ASF).

This, after City Mayor Beng Climaco, Department of Agriculture (DA)-9 Executive Director Rad Donn Cedeño with City Veterinarian Dr. Mario Arriola and Livestock and Poultry Board Chairman Eric Harina convened recently to look for means to assist the hog raisers as well as to mitigate the extent of ASF infections among pigs in the city.

Per confirmatory tests on blood samples taken, positive ASF virus was present in Sitio Canucutan in Barangay Pasonanca and Barangay Mangusu.

“We coordinated for registration of livestock raisers because we really want to mitigate (the ASF) and assist our hog raisers,” Mayor Climaco said.

The insurance program is a relaxed version of the DA’s regular livestock insurance program, offering free premium payments for backyard raisers and discounted premium for commercial hog raisers, and increased indemnity payments for culled hogs.

Hog raisers just need to register to avail the program and are encouraged to report affected pigs to have an increased indemnity.

The insurance premium is free.

Livestock and Poultry Board Chairman Eric Harina assured that his group would help facilitate the registration of hog raisers for insurance and City Veterinarian Dr. Mario Arriola would look for funds to assist the affected hog raisers, and campaign for the registration of animal or livestock farms.

Dr. Arriola cited City Ordinance 566, which grants indemnification to hog raisers for their animals culled due to diseases like ASF, the amount of which will depend on the species of culled animals.

Meanwhile, the meat consuming public has been assured that there is nothing to worry about amidst the ASF outbreak as all necessary measures have been taken to contain its spread.

The Office of the City Veterinarian intensified ASF containment activities to prevent the spread of ASF here.

Among the activities conducted are disease surveillance, disinfection of slaughterhouses, coordination with checkpoints, farm visitation, coordination and meeting with ASF infected barangays and stakeholders, blood sampling, as well as information campaign and other related ASF containment activities.

The Bureau of Animal Industry or BAI under the Department of Agriculture does the declaration of Zamboanga City as a red zone. (RVC/JRA/PIA9-Zamboanga/with reports and photo courtesy from the City Government of Zamboanga)