Calls for immediate compensation for hog raisers affected by ASF
(Eagle News) — An organization involving producers in agriculture, including hog raisers, thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for declaring a state of calamity nationwide due to the African Swine Fever (ASF), expressing hope that hog raisers affected by ASF would now receive proper compensation and immediate help.
“Nagpapasalamat din tayo sa Pangulo na napirmahan na (ang proclamation). We hope yung immediate pondo ay mabigay sa natamaan ng ASF,” said SINAG (Samahan ng Industriya ng Agrikultura) chair Rosendo So in an interview with the Eagle News Service program Balitalakayan, which is also aired over NET 25.
He also thanked the senators for their support for the hog raisers and for pushing for the proclamation of a state of calamity due to ASF.
So said he hoped that hog raisers whose affected pigs had been culled should get prompt compensation, including those who have more than 20 hogs which had been hit by ASF.
“We hope na yung mga kina-cull na baboy kung may ASF man mabayaran kaagad, kasi dati inaabot ng 7 months to one year…. Pati mga 30 heads, ngayon ay bayaran na sana, para di naman kawawa ang mga hog raisers,” So said.
-Stricter border control to protect PH from ASF-
He also called for stricter border control to protect the country from the entry of hogs affected by ASF, and for the increase in tariff for pork imports.
So said that imported meat should also be sold at lower prices since the tariff had been already lowered to 5 percent.
-Imported pork should be sold at P185/kilo-
“Dapat naibebenta yan ng P185 per kilo para at least mai-transfer ang benefits sa consumer,” he said.
So noted that not only are the tariffs for pork imports already very much reduced at 5 percent, but the peso-dollar exchange as well is much lower. There is thus no reason to sell imported pork at higher prices, he said.
He also said a price ceiling should be set for imported pork.
He said that so far there is still continuing pork supply in the markets.
“Wala tayong nakitang totally naubos ang karne sa palengke. Di naman masasabi na nawalan ng supply. May nagtitinda pa rin naman,” he said.
President Duterte, on May 10, signed Proclamation No. 1143 declaring a state of calamity throughout the country because of ASF. The state of calamity would last for at least a year and would enable the government to have more leeway in giving quick response funds to those affected by the ASF.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said that with the proclamation, not only the national government, but the local government units as well would now be able to use their quick response funds to help hog raisers affected by ASF.
(Eagle News Service)
