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Some backyard hog raisers in Bulacan have suffered losses due to the intense heat being experienced by the country. Andrea Taguines, ABS-CBN News

Some backyard hog raisers in Bulacan have suffered losses due to the intense heat being experienced by the country.

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Bulacan

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1714916128187viber_image_2024-05-05_21-06-19-952.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Some backyard hog raisers in Bulacan have suffered losses due to the intense heat being experienced by the country. Andrea Taguines, ABS-CBN News"/>Some backyard hog raisers in Bulacan have suffered losses due to the intense heat being experienced by the country. Andrea Taguines, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- When the dreaded African Swine Fever struck the province of Bulacan earlier this year, backyard hog raiser Vilma Ignacio’s pigs were spared from the carnage.This time, though, Ignacio is unable to shield her livestock from the extreme summer heat.She has already suffered nearly P100,000 in losses these past few months after she was forced to sell two of her pigs even if they have yet to fully grow -- out of fear that if she kept them longer, they would only die of heat stroke.“Talagang kawawa &#x27;yung mga alaga. Kailangan lagi mo siyang babasain ng tubig. &#x27;Yun ngang binabasa mo na siya ng tubig palagi, hinihingal pa rin siya. Tapos lagi silang uhaw na uhaw,” she said.The problem is, there’s also a shortage of water in their town.“Napakahirap ng tubig dito. &#x27;Yung aming kinukuhanang poso, natutuyo,” complained Ignacio.She has also lost several piglets, with some dying as soon as they were born. Those who survive end up getting sick.“Nagta-tae na naman sila, &#x27;yang mga kulig. Kai-inject pa lang nito, parang three days pa lang niya, hindi na naman nakuha. Pinababalik ko nanaman nga &#x27;yung technician kasi nagta-tae pa rin,” she said.Other piggeries in the area have also lost a pig or two due to heat stroke.They hope that the government will be able to help them by providing them with water for their animals.According to the Department of Agriculture, hog raisers may seek indemnification from the government.DA Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa also encouraged them to raise their issues with their municipal agricultural office so that it can come up with appropriate interventions.But he said their request for irrigation is a bit more complicated, since a viability test would first have to be conducted.“Unang-una dyan, kailangan tingnan kung meron bang reliable water source kasi ang tubig kasi natin for irrigation either nanggagaling sa ilog, sa lakes, or sa groundwater. So kung mayroon silang gano&#x27;ng available water source, at the same time, viable naman &#x27;yung area para paglagyan natin, kasi we’ll be doing investment sa patubig at mayroong enough na crops and livestock na makikinabang, then it will be feasible,” said De Mesa.<div>MINIMAL IMPACT ON LIVESTOCK</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MwJDNtC4ReQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe>While some piggeries and poultry farms are struggling amid the intense heat, De Mesa said the overall impact on these industries is minimal.</div>Damage to agriculture caused by El Niño has hit P5.9 billion, but De Mesa said the livestock industry, particularly, has only suffered about P8 million.The DA is also not worried about a possible shortage in the supply of pork and chicken.“&#x27;Yung ating pork and chicken, nako-compensate naman &#x27;yan ng ating importation. Tsaka hindi naman apektado masyado,” noted De Mesa.Agriculture group Sinag said this is because many hog and poultry raisers, even small-time ones, have already modernized and were prepared for the effects of the El Niño.But Sinag Executive Director Jayson Cainglet said this does not mean the government can rest on its laurels. Instead, he said officials should do more to bring food prices down.“Dapat mag-intervene na &#x27;yung government bakit ang laki ng disconnect between farmgate and retail (prices). Doon sana magfocus ang ating government para hindi umabot sa P400 ang baboy, hindi umabot sa P180 &#x27;yung manok, &#x27;yung bigas hindi umabot sa P60,” said Cainglet.“Para naman makinabang &#x27;yung consumer sa mababang farmgate kasi lugi e. Lugi producer, lugi consumer. Sino &#x27;yung kumikita? &#x27;Yung mga nasa gitna at &#x27;yung mga nag-iimport,” he added.

According to the Department of Agriculture, hog raisers may seek indemnification from the government.

According to the Department of Agriculture, hog raisers may seek indemnification from the government.

Some hog raisers in Bulacan suffer mounting losses due to intense heat

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Some hog raisers in Bulacan suffer mounting losses due to intense heat

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 05, 2024 09:40 PM PHT

Read More:

agriculture

Bulacan

Department of Agriculture

hog raising

livestock

heat index

extreme heat

El Niño

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