May 14, 2025

 

Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines, utilises fund to boost hog numbers

 

 

The government of  Legazpi City, Albay, the Philippines, is tapping the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) fund from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to increase the city's hog population as part of a broader effort to revive the industry still grappling with African swine fever (ASF).

 

In an interview at the Ugnayan sa Bicol briefing on May 2, Legazpi City veterinarian Emmanuel Estipona said the city government has teamed up with the DSWD to accelerate the repopulation of hogs in the city.

 

"Each swine raiser can secure up to ₱30,000 (US$538.14) from the SLP fund to finance their hog-raising ventures," Estipona said.

 

He explained that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has created "multiplier farms" to address the shortage of piglets.

 

These multiplier farms house grandparent swine breeder stocks, which are used to produce parent stocks. Production farms will then maintain these parent stocks to produce piglets intended for distribution to backyard growers.

 

"Maybe next year, those farms will be able to supply good breeds of piglets," he said. "Right now, it's difficult to source piglets."

 

Estipona said that the city government's veterinary office will educate hog raisers on biosecurity measures to eliminate the risk of ASF infection and to help sustain piglet production.

 

Additionally, Estipona stated that they have secured technical support from animal feed manufacturers for the swine repopulation programme.

 

According to the DA, the department is developing a roadmap to guide the industry's recovery, which includes a proposed law aimed at restoring the domestic hog inventory to 14 million heads, the level recorded before ASF affected piggeries across the country.

 

Official records indicate that ASF has reduced the swine population by approximately six million.

- Philippine Information Agency