Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chairperson of the Senate Comittee on Agriculture and Food, yesterday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of a state of calamity due to the African Swine Flu Fever (ASF) that has devastated the country’s hog industry.
Villar also thanked the President for heeding the call of the senators and various related sectors, stressing that this is a “welcome development.”
Earlier, the Senate agriculture committee had urged the President to declare a national state of emergency due to ASF outbreak which has cost about P50 billion in swine industry losses.
“This would enable the government to realign public funds for additional budget to effective respond to the state of emergency,” stressed Villar.
Under a state of national emergency, Villar said the government can allocate funds for hog raisers who are forced to cull their hogs to stop the spread of ASF and to stop them from selling.
Thw President issued on Tuesday Proclamation No. 1143 which declares a State of Calamity throughout the Philippines for a maximum of one year due to the African Swine Fever outbreak.