Senator Francis Pangilinan urged his fellow senators to pass a resolution recommending to the Department of Agriculture to declare to the President a national state of emergency due to African swine fever (ASF).
According to Pangilinan, the declaration of a state of emergency due to ASF will be of great help especially to hog raisers.
With the declaration of a state of emergency, he said, there will be a recognition that the problem with ASF is serious and serious.
At the same time, the government will be able to provide funding and resources to ASF control solutions.
“Unang-una, magkakaroon ng pagkilala na matindi at malala ang problema. At kaakibat nito, malalagyan ng pondo at resources ang mga solusyon sa pagsugpo ng sakit,” said Pangilinan.
He said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRM Fund) and Quick Response Fund will also be available.
DA, local governments, and other government agencies can also use their funds including the Quick Response Fund and calamity funds.
An indemnity fund will also be set up to provide financial assistance to backyard hog raisers whose domestic pigs have died due to ASF.
Pangilinan suggests declaring state of emergency due to ASF
According to Pangilinan, such a step is necessary because based on the report of the department of agriculture and the hog farmers association, ASF has already affected 12 regions, 40 provinces, and 458 municipalities.
The wine industry, which was previously considered a P248-billion industry, reportedly lost P56 billion in revenue.
Due to the lack of pork supply due to ASF, the price went up to P450 per kilo in January, which is why a price ceiling has been set.
According to Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, they will also file a separate resolution to urge the President not to lower the tariff on pork imports so that local hog raisers do not go bankrupt.
The hog raisers are in favor of placing the country under a state of emergency due to the still uncontrolled spread of African swine fever (ASF).
Nicanor Briones of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines and Chester Tan of the National Federation of Hog Farmers said that if a state of emergency is declared, there will be funds to stop the spread of ASF.