Cash aid to help farmers in Misamis Or recover from ASF
TO help hog raisers in Misamis Oriental recover from the adverse effects of the African Swine Fever on their livelihood, an indemnification payment worth P5.93 million has been released to them.
Chona H. Nacalaban, Department of Agriculture-Region 10 (DA-10) MisOr Provincial Operations Center Chief, said that about 319 hog raisers from three towns of said province received such financial aid, covering Initao with with P2.805 million (168 farmers); Manticao with P3.070 million (149); and Libertad with P55,000 for 2 farmers.
Hog raisers whose animals were depopulated to prevent the spread of the viral disease got P5,000 for every culled hog.
“This [indemnification payment] is a big help for you [affected hog raisers] to start anew with your chosen alternative livelihood and as source of income for your daily needs,” Nacalaban said.
Nacalaban added that such was realized with the assistance from the provincial and municipal governments.
She disclosed that with the agency’s continued partnership at the local levels, more agri-interventions are yet to come thru availment from DA’s banner programs – rice, corn, high value crops and livestock, and other special projects.
On top of DA-NorMin’s indemnification assistance, the provincial government of MisOr headed by Gov. Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano also provided ready-to-lay ducks and sacks of feed to the affected farmers as start-up for another livelihood option.
“The solution lies within all of us. We, in the government, requests for all of your full cooperation to early on recover from these threats,” said Emano
In doing so, this would pave the way for MisOr to bounce back its economy, he concluded.
Meanwhile, one of the beneficiaries, Marly Patnulag of barangay Jampason, Initao expressed, that it was worth it in heeding to the call of the government.
“Initially, it was hard to give up my raised hog to be culled, as way to help curb the spread of the disease ASF in our barangay. However, they [national and local governments] have assured us affected hog raisers that they will provide indemnification for such. Truly, they have fulfilled their promise.” Patnulag said.
The DA has already paid out P6,290,000 worth of indemnification assistance to 343 affected hog raisers, with the first leg of its distribution in Laguindingan town.
