Gov't to help cash-strapped LGUs address ASF problem —DA chief Dar

Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Wednesday said his department would "mobilize resources" to help local government units (LGUs) address the African swine fever problem in their areas.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Dar said they are aware that some LGUs have limited quick response fund (QRF) to be used against ASF since they have already been used in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We will present this obtaining situation sa ating liderato so we will continue to mobilize resources for this fight against this African swine fever," he said.

With President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of nationwide state of calamity due to the ASF outbreak, LGUs are given ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds, including QRF, in their response efforts to contain the spread of ASF.

The state of calamity, contained under Presidential Proclamation 1143, will last for a year unless earlier lifted or extended.

The presence of ASF in the Philippines was confirmed in 2019. The Department of Agriculture blamed the outbreak mainly on imports from China and the practice of swill feeding.

Meanwhile, with regards to the complaints of some hog raisers that they have yet to receive the P5,000 financial assistance promised to them by the government for every hog culled due to ASF, Dar said the ball is now with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

"Nandun na sa DBM three weeks ago pa, so sana ma-release na agad, P461 million yun [It's been with DBM since three weeks ago, and I hope it will be released soon, that amounts to P461 million]," he said. —KBK, GMA News