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In partnership with local government units, private sector, and veterinary and hog raisers’ groups, the Department of Agriculture (DA) formally launched in Batangas City the national hog repopulation and “Bantay sa ASF sa Barangay” twin program, with a combined public and private investments of P29.6 billion, aimed at effectively controlling African swine fever (ASF) and reviving the swine industry.
“We chose Batangas because this is where the ‘Bantay ASF sa Barangay’ or ‘BABay ASF’ was born, alongside the hog repopulation program, formally called the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE),” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar during the launching of the programs on February 11, 2021 in Batangas.
The BABay ASF has initial funding of P1.5 billion (B), while INSPIRE has P600 million (M), said undersecretary William Medrano, who oversees the DA national livestock program.
To encourage backyard and semi-commercial raisers in ASF-free areas and “green zones” to go back to the business of swine fattening and piglet production, the DA through the Agricultural Credit and Policy Council (ACPC) is offering zero-interest loans, payable in three to five years. The DA-ACPC has set aside an initial budget of P500 M for this financing program.
Further, Secretary Dar said the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and Development Bank of the Philippines are allocating P15 B and P12 B, respectively, for lending to commercial raisers.
The DA through its Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) is also providing raisers insurance coverage for their hogs at P10,000 each when culled due to ASF.
For his part, undersecretary Medrano said INSPIRE aims to accelerate the repopulation and recovery of the hog industry to ensure availability, accessibility, and affordability of pork and pork products. The program has three components, namely: calibrated repopulation – swine livelihood enterprise; establishment of breeder multiplier farms; and intensive and modernized production.
February 13, 2021/ Department of Agriculture/ Philippines.
https://www.da.gov.ph/
