ILOILO – In a major push to revitalize the hog industry in Western Visayas battered by the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6 launched the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) Project in Barangay Guinobatan, New Lucena town.
The June 11 launching marked a key step in the national government’s effort to accelerate swine repopulation while promoting sustainable production systems, agribusiness innovation, and biosecurity compliance.
New Lucena is among the identified beneficiaries, chosen for its strong livestock management practices and capacity to serve as a model hub for ASF-resilient swine production.
“This is the beginning of our long-term work to ensure that local farmers are empowered and our food systems are strengthened,” said DA-6 regional executive director Dennis Arpia during the launch.
The INSPIRE project aims to help rebuild the swine population lost to ASF since 2019. Under the program, the facility will manage all aspects of hog production—from sanitation and breeding to feeding and biowaste conversion — under strict biosecurity protocols and oversight from trained project members.
Arpia emphasized that the DA’s mission centers on uplifting the lives of farmers and fishers through sustained technical support and transformative interventions.
“Our success is not measured by how much we distribute but by the outcomes of our work,” he added, noting that more INSPIRE projects are being rolled out across Western Visayas.
The launch was attended by Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Panay Organic Producers Association (POPA) chairman Larry Nacionales, local officials, and farmer-beneficiaries.
Banias underscored that the initiative aligns with the province’s broader agricultural goals under the MoRProGRes agenda of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
“Once operational and compliant with biosecurity safeguards, this facility will be crucial in helping our hog farmers bounce back from ASF losses,” he said.
The DA also committed to equipping local farmers with intensive training, introducing advanced technologies, and fostering innovative practices to ensure sustainability in swine production and elevate the rural economy./PN
