July 14, 2025

 

Pig farmers in Negros Oriental, Philippines to receive indemnity for culled ASF-infected pigs

 

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) has approved the indemnification for hog farmers in two local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental province whose pigs were culled following the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in previous years.

 

Jaymar Vilos, Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) spokesperson, said that the local government units that qualified for the national government's financial compensation are Bais City and Manjuyod.

 

The ASF outbreaks were reported in Bais City and Manjuyod in 2023 and in Valencia in 2024.

 

Valencia swine raisers received the indemnification for their hog farmers last February.

 

Vilos said the total number of hog farmers to receive ASF indemnification is still being consolidated by the local government units (LGUs) for submission to the PVO for endorsement to the DA regional office.

 

The DA regional office will request funding from the national government based on the final list submitted.

 

"Each beneficiary will receive ₱5,000 (US$88.56) per head of pig culled, regardless of stages of production but excluding the piglets who have not been weaned at the time," he said.

 

The animals believed to have died due to ASF but were not turned over to authorities for culling do not qualify, he added.

 

Meanwhile, Valencia and Bais City, currently under the pink zone status relative to the ASF, have submitted the requirements for upgrading to the yellow zone.

 

In yellow zones, hog farmers are allowed "repopulation of their swine in full capacity" after determination that ASF is no longer present in these areas.

 

In pink zones, farmers are allowed to raise hogs but on a staggered basis under the DA's sentinel program, where repopulation is controlled and regulated, Vilos said.

 

Vallehermoso, Ayungon, and Manjuyod, on the other hand, are now applying to be upgraded from the red zone to the pink zone. Red zones are areas with confirmed ASF cases.

 

Vilos said a total of 17 out of the 25 towns and cities in Negros Oriental were identified as ASF-affected following the first cases reported in Dauin town.

 

-        Philippine News Agency