The Department of Agriculture (DA) assured supply of pork remains sufficient in Mindanao despite the first case of African swine fever outbreak in Davao Region.
“Supply in Davao will not be affected, it’s not such a significant number. From the total hog inventory of 12 million in the country, Davao Occidental has a total of 100,000 total hog population,’’ said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
Dar told reporters in a briefing in Quezon City yesterday. the DA is implementing measures to stop ASF from spreading to General Santos City, the main source of hog in the region.
“The zoning program is being enforced but we are adjusting it at the moment since Mindanao used to be a green zone but the situation is different now,’’ Dar said.
He added an indemnification of P5,000 per head of hog that will be culled will continue to be implemented.
The government is also making available SURE Aid loans worth P30,000 each to affected hog raisers, with zero-interest and payable in three years.
Likewise, the DA said that it is also prepared amid the new scare of bird flu outbreak in China.
Bureau of Animal Industry national director Ronnie Domingo in the same press conference said over 60 critical areas in the Philippines are being monitored as carriers of the said disease are usually migratory birds.
