BASISTA, Pangasinan, July 11 (PIA) - The local government unit of Basista, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), continues to bring aid to raisers whose hogs were affected by the African swine fever (ASF) in the past few months.

Mayor Jolly Resuello said even if the town is busy with measures to prevent and fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the local government does not forget to help those who were affected by the ASF.

"Noong kasagsagan ng ASF, we have allocated funds at nagbigay tayo ng Php 1,000.00 kada baboy na kinatay habang hinihintay ang ayuda from the regional/national government," Resuello said during the Kapihan sa PIA forum of the Philippine Information Agency.

Much affected is Barangay Cabeldatan where the first case of ASF started and spread in three more barangays -- Dumpay, Anambongan and Palma.

Resuello said the help from DA has also arrived in the form of Php 5,000.00 for every hog culled with the addition of a cow to augment the livelihood loss of the hog raisers.

"Bawat isang baboy ay papalitan ng gobyerno ng kilaw (baby cow) and for every nine hogs butchered, the hog raiser would get an additional mother cow bilang tulong ng gobyerno sa kanila," he explained.

The local chief executive said more than 600 pigs were culled in Basista town in the past few months and he is thankful that there are no new cases of ASF in his area at present.

Meanwhile, Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) Chair Rosendo So is hopeful that the alternative cattle would help the hog raisers and that they could sustain the breeding of cows.

"Maganda naman ang ayuda at may alternative na binigay. We hope na makatulong at sana ma-sustain ng ating mga raisers, " So said during a forum. (JCR/AMB/VHS/PIA Pangasinan)