Gov’t Eyes Insurance Subsidies For Hog Raisers Amid ASF

As the African swine fever virus (ASF) continues to affect the supply of pork products in the country, the national government is planning to give commercial hog raisers a 50% insurance subsidy.

In a virtual cabinet meeting on Monday, the issue on ASF has been brought up and the said insurance subsidy was considered.

According to cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles, once implemented and executed, the insurance subsidy will come from the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s quick response fund (QRF).

Nograles added that in times like these, they should utilike the DA’s QRF in order to save the hog industry and its raisers as well.

In January of this year, DA secretary William Dar encouraged hog raisers, both backyard and commercial, to avail the government’s insurance and loan to help them recover.

ASF was is also covered by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation since 2019 and grants a P100,000 insurance per swine. Backyard raisers however were given free insurance by the DA.

The short on pork supply is currently being addressed by the government since major cities and region in thr country is suffering from it most especially Metro Manila.

In Cebu City, Mayor Edgar Labella already issued executive order (EO) no. 118, stating the ban of foreign hog entry in the city to ensure that the pork supply will be ASF-free.

Meanwhile in Cebu Province, a six-month moratorium on live hogs export has been issued by Governor Gwen Garcia through an executive order.

The province of Cebu has a P11 billion worth of hog industry. (MLC)