DA explains INSPIRE, loaning programs to Aklan hog raisers

Some 20 swine raisers from the province of Aklan participated in the cascading of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program, and the Land Bank of the Philippines’ (LBP) Swine Lending Program at the Aklan State University (ASU) on April 20, 2021.

Present during the activity were DA Regional Executive Director Remelyn Recoter, National Livestock Program director Dr. Ruth Miclat-Sonaco, DA Regulatory Division chief Dr. Jonic Natividad, and Dr. Roland Fajardo of the Bureau of Animal Industry.

These national and regional officers enlightened hog raisers on their developmental concerns revolving around fluctuations of market prices, biosecurity measures, clustering programs, PCIC insurances, and the marketability of the hog industry in the region.

“I reiterate my optimism as far as the swine industry in Western Visayas is concerned, You have a very strong private sector, you have a very active LGU, and a supportive Regional Field Office and Agricultural Training Institute that is giving all technical training. The National Livestock Program has been doing its best to look for sources of funding to help our swine raiser. Our ordinary hog raisers will always be at the heart of the department of agriculture,” Dr. Sonaco saids.

INSPIRE program and Bantay ASF sa Barangay, also dubbed “BABay ASF” focus on hog repopulation and encouraging raisers to go back to business while agencies continue to take efforts to control the spread of the hog virus.

This program is in partnership with the LBP for the loan of commercial hog raisers geared toward existing hog producers who depopulated due to African Swine Fever (ASF).

Beneficiaries of the repopulation program include ASF-affected backyard raisers, accredited farmer’s cooperative and associations, semi-commercial farms, local government units, and state colleges and universities. (M.C.M. Buala/ Photos by J.De Guzman/DA RAFIS 6)