The City Hall of Zamboanga. (PNA file photo)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Local hog raisers have been advised by the local chief executive to register for the city-initiated insurance program to secure an indemnity for every animal culled due to the African swine fever (ASF).
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar issued the advisory Thursday after meeting with top officials from the Department of Agriculture in the Zamboanga Peninsula, the city veterinary office, and the livestock and poultry board.
“We coordinated for registration of livestock raisers because we want to mitigate (the ASF) and assist our hog raisers,” Salazar said.
Earlier, two of the blood samples taken from hogs in Sitio Canucutan, Barangay Pasonanca, and Barangay Mangusu were found positive for ASF infection.
The city’s ASF task force has placed the two villages on lockdown and begun the depopulation of hogs.
Salazar said the city insurance package for domestic farm animals is a relaxed version of the DA’s regular livestock insurance program, offering free premium payments for backyard raisers and discounted premiums for commercial hog raisers, and increased indemnity payments for culled hogs.
“The insurance premium is free and hog raisers just need to register to avail of the program,” she said.
She also called on hog raisers to report affected pigs to control the ASF from spreading.
City Veterinarian Dr. Mario Arriola said they are also looking for additional funds to assist the affected hog raisers and campaign for the registration of livestock farms.
He cited City Ordinance 566, which grants indemnification to hog raisers for their animals culled due to diseases like ASF. (PNA)
