Bacolod City – Amid the African Swine Fever (ASF) and hog cholera scare, Negros Occidental was able to ship out 10,000 “healthy” hogs to various areas of the country, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson disclosed recently.
Lacson noted a big increase in the number of hogs sold from 5,000 to 10,000 heads, when ASF was first reported in Negros Occidental.
According to report of the Provincial Veterinary Office, total hog deaths in Negros Occidental are now at 16,361, representing 9.96 percent of the 164,334 swine population of the province.
Losses to the hog industry further increased to P186.6 million, with 3,536 hog raisers affected by various swine diseases such as hog cholera and ASF.
ASF cases were detected in cities of Bacolod, Victorias and Silay, as well as Pulupandan and Hinigaran. However, no hog deaths were reported in the 1st district of Negros Occidental, composed of the cities of San Carlos and Escalante, municipalities of Toboso, Calatrava and Don Salvador Benedicto.
While he acknowledged that a number of pigs died, Lacson said Negros Occidental still has enough supply of hogs for local consumption, noting that parties even still serve lechons.
“I’d like to think we’ve somehow slowed it down already,” Lacson said, apparently referring to hog mortalities, noting that it further reduced to 104, as of July 9, compared to more than 400 a day in previous months.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is also set to release the P10 million financial assistance to affected hog raisers in the province, before the August 28 start of the election period for the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Should there be a hog repopulation, Lacson said they will start at the Negros First Ranch in Murcia, Negros Occidental.
He said they will get their stocks for dispersal from the Negros First Ranch, and even strengthen it. (Gilbert Bayoran via TVDS photo by TVDS)
Very interesting