Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda led the distribution of P32 million worth of livestock on Wednesday, August 19, at the PEO Compound, Bgry. Sindalan, City of San Fernando.
This was the assistance of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the rehabilitation and recovery program intended for the severely affected hog-raisers and farmers due to the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) last year.
Through the ASF Rehabilitation Program of DA and the provincial government of Pampanga, some 400 carabaos, 500 cattles, and 500 goats were distributed to 6, 718 ASF affected hog-raisers in the province.
It can be recalled that ASF has brought massive setbacks to Pampanga’s booming hog industry after several towns in the province were severely hit last October.
According to Governor Delta, the national government has allocated at least P300 million financial assistance for the province to serve as indemnity payment to hog-raisers hit by ASF.
He said that this rehabilitation project is an additional assistance given to the affected farmers in the province to give them the chance to recover from their losses due to ASF outbreak and the continuing spread of COVID-19.
“Ito pong proyekto na ito ay livelihood program na ibinigay po ni Secretary William Dar and President Rodrigo Duterte in addition sa payment na ibinigay sa atin para sa mga kinal na baboy last year. Sana po makapagsimula po tayo muli. Asahan niyo po, kami sa provincial government, hindi po namin kayo pababayaan lalong-lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya,“ the governor said in vernacular.
Beneficiaries of the program meanwhile were overwhelmed to the assistance extended to them.
“Sobrang saya, sobrang tuwa hindi ko naman po ineexpect na mapapabilang kami sa mga makakatnggap ngayon. Sobra-sobra po ang pasasalamat ko kay Governor, siya ang ginamit ni Lord para kami ay suportahan. Isipin mo nagkaroon ng lockdown, dahil sa tulong ng Kapitolyo at DA hindi kami nahirapan,” said Myrna Cunanan, one of the beneficiaries of the program.
Beneficiaries of the P 32 million worth of livestock were chosen based on the number of hogs culled from each affected farmer – for every 11 to 20 culled heads, the farmer was given carabao or cattle; for 10 and below culled hogs, goats were given.