By TED CORDERO, GMA News
Published February 13, 2021 11:54am The Department of Agriculture on Saturday launched a multibillion-peso program with twin goals of reviving the African swine fever-hit hog industry, and ensuring that the disease will not further spread. In a statement, the DA said Agriculture Secretary William Dar launched the national hog repopulation and “Bantay sa ASF sa Barangay” program in Batangas City. As a partnership, the program has as it stakeholders the local government units, private sector, and veterinary and hog raisers groups. It has a combined public and private investments of P29.6 billion, aimed at effectively arresting spread of the ASF and reviving the badly-hit swine industry, according to the DA.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar assures that the country has enough food supply and the potential 400,000 MT shortfall in pork supply this year will be addressed through importation.