Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. is keen on placing the whole province of province of Iloilo under a state of calamity due to African Swine Fever (ASF).
In a press conference, Defensor said he will sit down with members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to discuss the ASF situation in the province.
According to the governor, the province has met the criteria for the declaration of a state of calamity.
At present, two towns in the province — Oton and San Miguel — are affected by the highly contagious viral disease.
Defensor said the declaration will allow the provincial government to utilize its emergency fund to help farmers affected the spread of ASF.
So far, 23 barangays in Oton and two in San Miguel have positive cases of ASF.
Iloilo Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Darel Tabuada said more than 600 pigs have been depopulated from the affected barangays in Oton and about 500 more are up for depopulation.
In San Miguel, more than 300 infected hogs within 500 meters radius from the ground zero will also be depopulated.
Defensor said the provincial government has already “identified funds” that they can use until the end of 2022.
“Maybe we can include it in the Supplemental Budget. If not, [this] week we will declare a state of calamity we will use emergency fund.”IMT
