SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) – Hog raisers in the municipality who suffered losses due to the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak recently received financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
A total of 758 hog raisers, whose pigs were depopulated during the first leg of depopulation from January 13 to 21, 2024, each received P5,000 to help offset their losses.
“This is just the first batch of affected hog raisers in San Jose,” explained Municipal Agriculturist Romel Calingasan, adding that subsequent payouts for other affected hog raisers are planned.
Jennewie E. Castillo, one of the beneficiaries, lost 18 hog fatteners to ASF, resulting in an estimated loss of P198,000.
“Nalungkot, syempre. Malaki po [ang nalugi], kasi nung nadepopulate [‘yung baboy ko] ay bentahin na,” Castillo shared.
(It was disheartening, of course. Our loss is huge, as our fatteners were ready to be sold when depopulation happened.)
She said that the monetary aid was timely as she needed it for her children’s education expenses, saying, “Malaki rin naman po [ang maitutulong] gawa ng sa pangangailangan ng estudyante.”
(It’s a big help for my children’s school needs.)
The Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) had requested interventions from various agencies and government offices to help swine raisers, whose livelihoods were affected by the disease, mitigate their losses.
Before the payout, the LGU of San Jose granted 1,104 hog raisers monetary aid amounting to P2,000 each.
The payout was carried out with the help of the Office of the Congressman and the provincial and municipal government offices. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA-Occidental Mindoro)
