Individuals interested in hog raising should push through with their investment, as government has sufficient support in place,  including insurance from the PCIC. 

William Medrano, Agriculture Undersecretary for livestock, gave this assurance in a virtual forum on the rollout of the DA’s Swine Repopulation and Recovery program in Region 10, held on July 23, 2021.

“The swine industry is important to all of us,” Medrano told the gathering.    “All the resources of the Department, ibinubuhos na natin dito [sa Swine Recovery program],” he added.

 Included in the interventions are the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion or INSPIRE, to increase hog population; Bantay ASF sa Barangay or BABay ASF; the availability of concessional loans from the LandBank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines and the swine insurance program of the PCIC.

Under PCIC’s swine program, there is a ₱10,000 insurance cover per head of swine, on a premium payment of only 2.25% or ₱225.

However, small backyard hog raisers are given free insurance if they are listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

The insurance coverage is different from the ASF indemnification claims, where beneficiaries are eligible for a ₱5,000 assistance per pig culled.

“You don’t have to worry about ASF, or as long as you will implement a strong biosecurity [measures],” Medrano said. “[Plus] we have already institutionalized a hog insurance system under the PCIC. For as long as you are registered, enrolled [for hog raisers included in the RSBSA], and paid the premium [for commercial raisers], you don’t have to worry in engaging in swine production.”