Palace appeals to Bulacan farm owners for patience

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang appealed Wednesday for patience from owners of hog farms hit by the recent depopulation of some 6,000 pigs in Pandi town in Bulacan province. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the Departments of Budget and Management (DBM) and Agriculture (DA) have been tasked to extend “assistance" to the affected farm owners. “Magkaroon ng kaunting pasensya ang may-ari ng piggeries. Let’s be honest about it, di kasalanan ng government nagkaroon ng Ebola Reston virus. Assistance na lang kung tutuusin [We ask the farm owners for a little patience. Let’s be honest about it, it’s not the government’s fault that their pigs were infected. The most we can do is give assistance]," Remonde said in an interview on dzXL radio. Health authorities completed last weekend the depopulation process of hogs believed to be infected with Ebola Reston virus. Remonde said the DA and DBM have instructions to “facilitate" the assistance to the affected farm owners, especially after the P1.415-trillion national budget for 2009 shall have been signed by the President. - GMANews.TV