CAPIZ – Around P1,156,000 worth of indemnity checks were distributed to 42 hog farmers affected by African Swine Fever (ASF) in this province.
These farmers were insured through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), an implementing agency of the government’s agricultural insurance program.
Attached to the Department of Finance, the PCIC is mandated to provide insurance protection to farmers against losses arising from natural calamities, plant diseases, infestation of their palay and corn crops, and other crops.
The turnover of the financial aid was held on June 15 at the Provincial Agriculturist Office.
Gov. Fredenil Castro said the provincial government is also finding ways to help uninsured hog raisers whose livelihoods were affected.
Currently, the province is validating those qualified to receive the aid.
The province declared a state of calamity due to the effects of ASF.
Capiz logged its first confirmed case on Feb. 22.
Some 51.16 percent, or 242 of the 473 barangays in Capiz, were affected by the hog disease, data from the Provincial Veterinarian’s Office as of June 6 showed.
With the declaration, the provincial government can utilize 30 percent, or P32.6 million, of its Quick Respond Fund for necessary interventions to combat the spread of the hog infection and aid the affected hog growers./PN
