Backyard hog raisers in Catanduanes are still waiting for the Department of Agriculture’s payment of the government’s indemnification for the hundreds of pigs culled during the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak last year.
This was disclosed last week in a privilege speech by Provincial Board Member Joselito T. Alberto who described the delay in the release of the indemnification fund as a matter that strikes at the very heart of the island’s agricultural sector and tests the resilience of farmers and hog raisers across the island.
“Our local swine raisers and agricultural workers have been trapped in an agonizing cycle of waiting, empty promises, mounting debts and decimated livelihoods,” he said, adding that the indemnification is vital for their recovery, rehabilitation, and re-establishment of their livelihoods.
PBM Alberto noted that no less than Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza took action and inquired with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) regarding the status of the ASF indemnification funds.
He pointed out that in an official communication dated May 22, 2026, OIC-Director Dr. Christian P. Daquigan confirmed that BAI had already endorsed the fund allocation request to DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DA-DRRM) Office.
Not only that, he stressed, the requested funds amounting to P4,844,000 have already been downloaded to the DA Regional Field Office V for disbursement to qualified hog raisers in Catanduanes.
“The money is there. The funds have been downloaded. Yet, why are our farmers still waiting? Why are our people still knocking on doors, wondering when help will finally arrive?” the board member asked.
He said that when the government moves slowly in times of crisis, it runs the risk of eroding the trust of the very people elected leaders have sworn to serve.
It may be recalled that at the height of the ASF outbreak in 2025, municipal agriculture officers had already expressed dismay at the lack of certainty of payment for farmers whose animals were culled as they were within a 500-meter radius from the ground zero of infection.
“Patay tayo diyan, kami ang mananagot niyan,” one official remarked despite an assurance from the Provincial Veterinary Office that all the municipalities had to do was to request funding from the regional office, which will forward the same to the national office for charging against the Quick Reaction Fund (QRF).
During the consultative meeting held that March 2025, an official of DA-RFU5 admitted that it would take six months for the payment to be released.
DA Administrative Order No. 10, series of 2024, provide higher compensation rates for infected or potentially infected animals which are rapidly and deliberately killed and then buried to prevent the disease from spreading.
Under the directive, affected farmers will be paid P12,000 for each sow or boar and P8,000 for grower or finisher pigs between 25 to 75 kilograms in live weight.
On the other hand, they will get P4,000 for weanlings about 30-90 days old and not more than 25 kg in weight. Suckling piglets are not covered by the ASF cash assistance.
As of March 2025, the Provincial ASF Task Force was told that a total of 346 hogs had been culled or depopulated, with 105 farmers awaiting the payment of compensation amounting to P2.6 million at that time.