• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An additional 900 hog raisers who were affected by the African Swine Fever and other hog related cases, are expected to receive financial assistance from the provincial government of Negros Occidental by next week.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office head Chiqui Gonzales yesterday said that the identified beneficiaries in the cities of Kabankalan, Talisay and Silay, as well as Ilog, San Enrique, and Valladolid, will each receive P2,000.
The DSWD is also processing the claims of 1,000 more hog raisers, in order for them to avail of such financial assistance from the provincial government.
The provincial government has allocated P10 million in financial assistance, for distribution to 5,000 qualified hog raisers in Negros Occidental.
Gonzales said they are also looking into granting P2,000 financial assistance to more than 2,000 farmers affected by the drought in the province.
As of now, they are still looking for the source of the budget, she stressed.
Damage to rice and corn crops in Negros Occidental, brought about by the drought from the El Niño weather phenomenon, has increased further to P87,477,548.33, as of March 13, where 1,951.80 hectares are affected in 99 barangays of 15 local government units in the province, according to a report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
Gonzales said they have started to pre-position food assistance for farmers affected by the El Niño phenomenon.*
