Secretary Dar emphasized that the strong coordination between the Provincial Government of Rizal and Municipal Government of Rodriguez with the Department of Agriculture Region IV-CALABARZON under the leadership of Director de Mesa was very essential to control and eliminate ASF in Rodriguez in just 30 days (August to September 2019).

As per record, there were 7,003 hogs culled due to ASF incident observing the 1-7-10 KM zones affecting a total of 711 hog raisers in six barangays of Rodriguez.

One of the initial interventions provided by the Department was indemnification, which gives 5,000 pesos to affected raisers for each of their surrendered pig to be humanely culled.

According to Regional Director de Mesa, the distribution of interventions is all based on needs assessment and validation of affected raisers to ensure that the livelihood assistance received by them is the most suitable and sustainable.

Mr. Leonilo B. Esperanza, one of the first ASF-affected raisers in Brgy. Macabud, said “Noong kinuha ang aming baboy ay binigyan kami ng DA Region IV-CALABARZON ng tig 5,000 kada baboy na sya namang ginamit naming pambili ng mga buto pang tanim at ilang gamit para magkaroon kami ng alternatibong pangkabuhayan. At ngayon po, nagbigay na naman ang Department of Agriculture CALABARZON ng karagdagang kagamitan tulad ng grass cutter, pala, asarol, at mga buto na pwede naming itanim. Kaya malaki po ang pasasalamat naming sa Department of Agriculture CALABARZON.” (When our pigs were collected by the DA, we were given 5,000 for each pig that we surrendered. We used that money to buy some seeds and farm tools to start planting vegetables as our alternative livelihood. Now, the Department of Agriculture CALABARZON given us additional equipment such grass cutter, shovel, hoe, and various seeds, which we can plant. That’s why we are really grateful to Department of Agriculture CALABARZON) ● (RFL, DA-RAFIS)