By Cleizl Pardilla
The spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) remains a challenge globally, but Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Noel Reyes believes the Philippine government’s relentless efforts to eradicate the swine virus are now showing positive results.
Reyes said the number of ASF confirmed cases has significantly declined. From 1,773 ASF cases in August last year, the highest number recorded so far, the number of cases plummeted to 178 in March this year.
“Kumonti na po ang incidence ng ASF,” Reyes said. “Nagtatagumpay naman po tayo sa BaBay ASF o Bantay sa ASF sa Barangay.” [The incidence of ASF has declined. Our BaBay ASF program or Bantay (Watch) sa ASF in the Barangays is succeeding.]
BaBay ASF is a DA program that implements strict biosecurity, surveillance, and monitoring of the highly contagious ASF virus at the grass roots level.
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) describes ASF as a “severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs responsible for serious production and economic losses.”
Currently, the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) has reported to the OIE a total of 2,490 barangays in 12 regions that have been affected by ASF.
Aggressive repopulation
As of press time, almost half a million pigs have been culled to stop the spread of ASF. This has caused adverse effects on swine production, resulting in a loss of 3 million from the Philippines’ swine population and a loss of P1 billion annual income from the livestock industry.
This pushed the DA to partner with the Landbank of the Philippines to intensify its swine repopulation by establishing lending programs.
Lending program for hog raisers
One of these is the SWINE or “Special Window and Interim support to Nurture Hog Enterprises” program that provides financial support of P15 billion pesos to the swine industry.
The eligible borrowers are commercial hog raisers, cooperatives and farmers associations, small and medium enterprises, and large enterprises and corporations.
Start-up businesses may also apply, provided that they have a contract growing agreement with integrations and must have experience and or relevant training in commercial hog operations.
Meanwhile, existing hog enterprises must have at least three years’ track record of profitable operations prior to the ASF outbreak last July 25, 2019, based on their Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) audited file.
The borrower’s operation should be classified as a commercial farm with at least one of the following qualifications:
· 51 sow level and above
· 501 fatteners and above
The borrower’s area of operation should be classified by the local government with at least a Biosecurity Level 1 in compliance with the minimum standards set by the Philippine College of Swine Practitioners, and located within green, yellow, or pink zones certified by DA-BAI.
Landbank vows support
Landbank Assistant Vice President Edgardo Luzano assured potential borrowers that they are making the loan process simple and easy, adding that certain requirements, however, are necessary.
“Patuloy po nating ginagawang simple ang ating requirements para sa pag-comply ng ating mga interested borrowers,” he said. “Ngunit dito po sa ating swine lending programs, may mga kailangang requirement para ma-ensure natin ang biosecurity.”
[We continue to make the requirements simple enough for our interested borrowers to comply with. But in our swine lending programs, there are necessary requirements for us to ensure biosecurity.]
Landbank is a universal bank owned by the Philippine government that focuses on serving the needs of farmers and fisherfolk.
Those interested from borrowing from the bank’s swine lending program can get a loan of as high as 80% of their project cost, at a 3% fixed interest rate for three years.
“Marami tayong lending centers para mag-inquire sa swine lending program, pwede po silang tulungan pagdating sa packaging sa loan, pati requirements,” Luzano said.
[We have many lending centers where they can inquire about the swine lending program, and where they will be assisted with loan packaging and the requirements.]
The DA is optimistic that the country’s hog sector can be revived. “Kaya magre-repopulate tayo [We will repopulate]”, Reyes said, “para ma-enhance ang repopulation ng ating mga kanayunan, at muling ibangon ang ating livestock industry [to enhance the repopulation of our farms and revive the livestock industry].”
At present, the DA, in partnership with Landbank, has helped 2.67 million small farmers and fishers through its various lending programs, providing them P43.98 billion worth of financial loans. ***
