Hog industry losses due to ASF hit P200 billion

MANILA, Philippines — Losses to the hog industry due to African swine fever (ASF) have reached P200 billion, according to Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines chairman and AGAP party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones.

“At least 50 percent of the total hog population in the country had been affected by ASF. This is happening in the Visayas and Mindanao,” Briones said in his speech at the launch of the first border control facility in Angat, Bulacan yesterday. ”The industry already lost at least P200 billion.”

He said the livestock industry in the country is worth P400 billion.

Briones said the spread of the swine disease would not stop unless the necessary measures are implemented.

“There will be a resurgence (of ASF) as hog raisers continue to sell pigs despite being infected,” he said.

Briones said pigs suspected to be infected with ASF are being sold for P8,000 to P10,000 per head.

“Nobody is reporting because hog raisers will not get compensation if they surrender their pigs,” he said.

Briones said Congress should pass into law his proposal to allocate P1 billion to indemnify hog raisers and other affected farmers.

He said the funding would cover hog farmers whose livestock were affected by swine diseases or calamities.

”Local government units should provide additional compensation by declaring a state of calamity so that they can use their respective budgets,” Briones added.

The Bureau of Animal Industry had earlier said a majority of new ASF cases are confined in the Visayas.

10 million chickens culled

Meanwhile, Briones said 10 million chickens had been culled because of bird flu.

He said the infected chickens are mostly in Pampanga, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.

Briones said the campaign against avian flu should protect Batangas, which is considered the Egg Capital of the Philippines.

“Luckily, bird flu did not reach Batangas. We have 15 million layers in the province,” Briones said.