BARELY a week after the declaration of State of Calamity due to typhoon Carina, the local government of Lobo, Batangas has declared the State of Calamity anew effective August 5 — this time, to address the increasing loss in hog raising industry due to the onslaught of African Swine Fever (ASF).
Records from the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist revealed that as of July 31, 2024, a total of 8,818 heads of pigs and piglets were either died due to ASF or culled to prevent the spread of the disease. These number accounted to more or less P103.3-million economic loss to around 500 affected hog raisers in the municipality.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel Jr. said the department will establish a checkpoint in coordination with the PNP, the local government unit and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to prevent the transport of affected hogs to other parts of the province of Batangas.
The local government of Lobo, however, assured that all those affected registered hog raisers will receive their financial assistance from the Municipal Government.
Cases of ASF were also recorded in the City of Lipa, and the towns Calatagan, Lian, Talisay, Rosario and San Juan.|
