CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) has completed its assistance to livestock farmers in Camiguin Island province consisting of a swine production project worth PHP10.7 million. A report released by the DA-10 on Wednesday showed that 590 farmers were given 843 "upgraded" swine and 1,571 bags of feeds. In a statement, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Pacamalan said the assistance is under the Initiative for Recovery and Expansion-Sentinel Protocol, which is designed to revive areas affected by African swine fever (ASF). "The project seeks to strengthen the province's ability to produce an adequate supply of hogs and pork locally," he said. Jamaica Docdoc, the focal person for the DA-10 livestock program, said the interventions will assist hog raisers in restoring their livelihoods affected by the hog disease. The Sentinel Protocol employs a scientific approach to detect the presence of ASF virus and to facilitate areas' release from ASF quarantine. G eorge Gumban, a hog raiser from Barangay Maac, Guinsiliban town in Camiguin, said the swine DA provided will add to his livelihood and benefit his family. Source: Philippines News agency