President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation 1143 on May 10 declaring a state of calamity in the Philippines pork industry.
With more than 3 million hogs and P100 billion lost in the Philippines hog industry due to African swine fever (ASF), Duterte’s proclamation has been welcomed by hog farmers.
The declaration provides a legal basis for the government to release funds, PhilStar Global reports.
“This is important to increase support and help of the government to hog raisers and contain the ASF. At present, the biggest damage is being felt by the private sector and the hog industry. The government can now step in with additional funding and use the quick response fund of the DA (Department of Agriculture),” Sen. Francis Pangilinan said in PhilStar Global.
The DA reported that some additional P6-billion budget is needed for the ASF response, but only P2.6 billion is currently available.
The proclamation is valid for one year, unless otherwise earlier lifted.
Despite government interventions, ASF has spread to 12 regions, 46 provinces, 493 cities and municipalities, and 2,561 villages nationwide since it hit the country in 2019, Andaolu Agency reports.
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