SENTINELLING PROGRAM. Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Darel Tabuada presents the status of the African swine fever (ASF) recovery program in Iloilo during the second quarter meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Monday (April 29, 2024). In a follow-up interview, Tabuada said the sentinelling program of the province is poised to take off anytime soon in 15 municipalities covering 1,139 farmers. (Photo courtesy of Balita Halin sa Kapitolyo)
ILOILO CITY – The provincial government aims to improve the hog inventory in Iloilo with its sentinelling program poised to take off anytime soon in its 15 municipalities covering 1,139 farmers.
“The 15 municipalities have already submitted their initial number of raisers. We are now validating on the ground if they have passed our guidelines for the sentineling,” Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Darel Tabuada said in an interview on Tuesday.
He said almost 90 percent of the list submitted by the local government units passed, especially in Oton, where the first case of African swine fever (ASF) was detected last year.
The provincial government has allocated PHP13.67 million for the sentinelling program. The funds will be downloaded to LGUs once they have the final list of farmers and the provincial government and the implementing LGU sign an agreement for the implementation.
“We will go ahead with our own sentinelling program because we do not know when the Department of Agriculture will start its own. Governor Arthur Defensor does not want us to be left hanging,” he added.
Under the provincial government version, each qualified farmer will receive two piglets that will be purchased by their local government units using the funds downloaded by the province.
Once the DA starts its version, the provincial government will also submit its list.
Tabuada said the sentinelling program is the contribution of the province in increasing hog inventory.
During the second quarter meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Monday, Tabuada presented that Iloilo has 83,465 heads available as of April 22.
He said data also showed that from 72,320 heads as of Feb.12, 2024, the number increased to 83,465 heads as of April 22, posting a 15 percent increase.
“Since February, there is already a significant increase in our inventory. We can see an almost 15 percent increase, or more than 10,000 heads. The sentinelling program is more or less 2,000 heads, but at least the province has its contribution in reviving the swine industry,” he said.
From January up to April, the pork sufficiency level of Iloilo was at 70 percent, including the frozen and processed pork shipped into the province. (PNA)
