The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation Regional Office 1 (PCIC RO 1) released indemnity payments worth ₱5.821 Million to 188 African Swine Fever or ASF-affected backyard hog raisers in Ilocos Norte on October 7, 2021. 

RO 1 Manager Raul Servito led the distribution in Barangay Poblacion, Solsona town.

“All claims of the hog raisers affected by the ASF in Region 1 are being processed and released as efficiently and quickly as we can,” Servito said.

Servito told beneficiaries to encourage fellow raisers and other farmers to avail themselves of the PCIC’s free insurance, particularly for livestock, rice, corn and high value crops.

Gov. Manotoc echoed this sentiment.

“Ito po ay isang magandang reminder na mahalaga ang insurance. Dahil insured kayo, talagang malaki ang benepisyo para sa inyo,” Manotoc said.  “We thank you na nagpa-insure kayo and in the future ituloy po natin ang mga ganitong insurance” he added.

For her part, provincial veterinarian Loida Valenzuela urged hog raisers to regularly clean and disinfect their backyards, so that they can eradicate ASF, and ultimately get clearance from the local government to resume hog raising activities. 

Hog raisers thanked the PCIC for their prompt processing and release of indemnity.

 “Dakkel nga panagyaman mi iti PCIC, salamat la unay ta adda kastoy nga programa iti gobyerno tayo, ta atoy ket dakkel nga tulong ti panagbangon ken panangsimura mi manen” (“We are very thankful to PCIC. It’s good, and we are grateful that we have this program from the government. This will help us a lot to rise and start all over again”), Benjamin Manuel, a  hog raiser, said

Also present in the distribution were House Committee on Agriculture Vice Chairman, Rudy Caesar Fariñas I, Solsona Mayor Joseph De Lara and municipal agriculturists from the  municipalities where the recipients reside.