• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The financial and livelihood assistance for affected hog raisers will not be released to politicians, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson stressed yesterday.
“These funds will not go to candidates. These funds will go to legitimate owners of hogs that died of animal diseases,” Lacson said.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is giving P2,000 financial aid and free-range chickens to affected hog raisers, through the Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Lacson said they will try to release the financial and livelihood assistance before the start of the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election period.
As of June 13, the Provincial Veterinary Office reported a total of 12,560 hog deaths, affecting 132 barangays of 17 local government units, affecting 2,404 hog raisers, with losses to swine industry further increasing to P141.6 million.
The livelihood assistance will be distributed by DSWD personnel, according to Lacson.
He stressed that they will ensure that rules of the Commission on Elections will be followed when the funds are ready for release.*
