TACLOBAN CITY — Hog raisers in Silago, Southern Leyte, who culled their pigs during the recent African swine fever (ASF) outbreak received P4.9 million in indemnification from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The DA Regional Field Office in Eastern Visayas said 116 hog raisers in the municipality received financial compensation for pigs culled under the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management funds of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).

Silago, located along the boundary of Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces, has been hit by ASF three times in the past five years — in March 2021, December 2023 and September 2025.

The latest outbreak, which affected three barangays, resulted in industry losses of more than P7 million.

The DA regional office said the P4.9 million indemnification for the latest outbreak would help affected raisers gradually rebuild their livelihoods and resume swine production.

Dr. Michael Jerome Martal, Veterinarian II at the DA-BAI central office, explained the government’s ASF indemnification program to hog raisers during the distribution of financial assistance on 4 and 5 August.

“Indemnification is financial compensation provided to farmers whose animals were depopulated or culled after being affected by the disease to prevent its spread to other areas,” Martal said.

Meanwhile, Silago Mayor Lemuel Honor vowed continued support for the town’s hog industry, which has remained resilient despite repeated ASF outbreaks.

Honor urged farmers to coordinate closely with the Municipal Agriculture Office whenever they encounter challenges affecting their livestock operations.

He also encouraged local hog raisers to enroll their livestock with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation to help cushion the financial impact of unforeseen animal disease outbreaks.