MANILA – Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan reassured hog-raisers that the Senate would pass a resolution today that would urge the President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a state of calamity due to the African swine fever (ASF).
In a Saturday statement, Pangilinan explained that his proposed Senate Resolution No. 676 cites the possible use of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund and Quick Response Fund, amounting to around P20 billion, to supplement the Department of Agriculture’s efforts to contain and manage ASF.
However, the funds can only be utilized if a state of calamity is declared.
Among the responses Pangilinan was hoping the calamity fund would support the priority hiring of hog-raisers in cash-for-work programs related to ASF.
As of December 2020, the ASF outbreak had cost the Philippine swine industry P56 billion.
The ASF outbreak is blamed for the spike in retail prices of pork due to the dwindling supply in Luzon.(GMA News)
