Dr. Jessica Maribojoc, head of the City’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF), told SunStar Cebu Monday, March 13, 2023, that samples were already collected on Sunday, March 12, and have been submitted to the Bureau of Animal Industry for testing.
Maribojoc said the results will be out in one or two days.
If the ASF virus is detected in the city, Maribojoc said all pigs within the 500-meter radius have to be disposed of through culling.
Maribojoc said the City Government has proposed to provide compensation to farmers who will be affected by the pig depopulation.
Under the initial proposal, a farmer may receive P14,500 per “breeder pig” but only for a maximum of 10 pigs.
For “fattener pigs” a farmer may get P10,000 per pig for a maximum of 20 pigs.
Maribojoc also said farmers can have their pigs covered by an insurance policy which can be availed of at the City Agriculture Department (CAD).
According to the CAD, there are around 3,600 pigs being raised by backyard farmers located in 13 barangays in the city.
With the ongoing threat of the ASF virus in Cebu, Maribojoc said they have discouraged all pig farmers in the city from raising pigs in the next six months to avoid financial losses.