THE Department of Agriculture (DA) started disinfecting piggery farms in three towns where there are no more reported cases of the African Swine Fever (ASF) for at least 90 days, prior to the distribution of “sentinel” piglets.

DA Regional Executive Director Nestor Domenden said the repopulation of hogs will be launched in Lingayen, Labrador and Aguilar towns after their disinfection are completed.

Sentineling involves the distribution of three piglets weighing about 15 kilos each to families whose piggery were affected by ASF.

He said the Bureau of Animal Industry has the authority to declare a certain area free from ASF since it has records of areas that have not reported ASF infection for the past two to three months.

Domenden said Ilocos Norte was unaffected by ASF.

Meanwhile, DA’S regional office already distributed P120-million indemnification fund for ASF-hit hog raisers and additional indemnification fund release from the Department of Budget and Management is being awaited.

A hog raiser gets P5,000 check for every swine head depopulated due to ASF but not exceeding 20 heads to be indemnified for the total pig population culled. This is on top of the financial assistance extended by some local government units, Domenden  said.

Domenden also said that price of pork in Region1 remains stable while supply is sufficient.

Based on data gathered by DA in the Ilocos Region, 42 percent of hog population was hit by ASF in 2019. (Eva Visperas)

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