Philippine hog farmers urged to insure before ASF hits

The programme has already protected 1,898 livestock in Antique.

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) has urged swine growers in Antique to register for free hog insurance whilst the province remains free of African Swine Fever (ASF).

To qualify for the free coverage, farmers must be registered with the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

The PCIC programme provides a benefit of $160 (P10,000) per head for fattening pigs and $232 (P14,500) per head for breeding pigs. To date, PCIC Antique has insured 1,898 head of livestock, the majority of which are swine.

Clogene Galuego, head of PCIC Antique, stated that livestock farmers must apply through their local municipal agriculture offices immediately.

He warned that the agency will stop accepting new insurance applicants as soon as a single case of ASF is officially confirmed within the province.

The warning follows recent reports of ASF outbreaks in the neighbouring provinces of Capiz and Iloilo.

($1.00 = P61.51)