Three government agencies in Davao Region have inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to speed up the recovery of the region’s hog industry from African swine fever (ASF), an official said Monday.

In a statement, Abel James Monteagudo, the regional Department of Agriculture (DA-11) director, said his office signed the MOA over the weekend with the Department of Agrarian Reform-11 and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation-11 for a PHP132 million worth of intervention for the sector.

Agudo said the money is for the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program, aimed at helping 24 agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) in the region.

Each ARBO received PHP5.5 million in assistance to fund the three components of the project – repopulation and swine livelihood enterprise, the establishment of breeder multiplier farms, and intensive and modernized production.

“Unity is strength in reviving the swine industry. We are so thankful to DAR and PCIC for helping us in intensifying our efforts to help our farmers whose livelihoods are affected by the ASF,” Monteagudo said.

He said the ARBs play a key role in reviving the hog industry as they will serve as partners to make hog raising, processing, and marketing very productive.

Meanwhile, DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Milagros Isabel Cristobal said to achieve productivity among ARBs and the community, there should be a convergence of initiatives among agencies.

“We are hoping that sooner we can hear the success stories of these ARBOs and how you contribute to spur the economy. We can only ask of you to pay it forward and those communities who are also in need,” she said.

Under the INSPIRE project, PHP4.4 million is allocated for the biosecure housing facility for swine, while PHP525,000 is for 75 swine heads, and PHP500,000 for feeds and biologics. (PNA)